Chapter 0739 Opening the department and taking the scholars and making a demon?!
Now that Kou Ji has made a decision, Fan Zhongyan can't say any more.
In a blink of an eye, it’s spring time.
Kou Ji, together with Fan Zhongyan, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Chen Yaozi of Kaifeng Prefecture, who had the power to know, arrived at Gongyuan.
Inside and outside the Gongyuan, there were countless government officials and soldiers guarding the palace.
They are responsible for security and discipline within the Gongyuan.
The gate of Gongyuan is closed tightly and no one is allowed to enter or exit.
Kou Ji and Fan Zhongyan waited at the gate of Gongyuan for two quarters of an hour before Chen Yaozi arrived at the gate of Gongyuan.
Chen Yaozi was a tall man in his fifties. Although his beard and hair were white, his strong figure made it difficult to mistake him for an old man in his fifties.
Kou Ji had met his brother Chen Yaozuo. Chen Yaozuo was so thin and weak that a breeze seemed to be able to blow him, but Chen Yaozi probably needed a strong wind to shake his figure.
From Chen Yaozi's body shape and arm length, Kou Ji could tell that Chen Yaozi was proficient in archery and was definitely not an exaggeration.
Kou Ji stared at Chen Yaozi in front of him and sighed slightly: "After all, he is a martial arts practitioner, but he is different..."
Chen Yaozi did not make excuses in front of Kou Ji, but bowed in a decent manner, "I am a lowly official, Chen Yaozi, and I have met Privy Council Kou..."
Kou Ji smiled calmly and said: "No need to be too polite. I have heard for a long time that Magistrate Chen is proficient in archery. I wonder if I will have a chance to see him."
Chen Yaozi was stunned for a moment and grinned. However, the smile did not hang on his face for long before he calmed down. He said very humbly: "I'm not proficient, I just know a little bit.
If Privy Kou wants to see it, I'm afraid it will be a bit difficult."
"oh?!"
Kou Ji said with a surprised look: "Why?"
Chen Yaozi did not hide anything, and said frankly: "My mother did not like Xiaguan to practice martial arts when she was alive. When she was young, she asked Xiaguan to give up martial arts and concentrate on studying. When she died, she left her last words to ask Xiaguan to have more time.
Study, and don’t wield swords or guns. My mother’s last words must be obeyed by subordinates.”
Mother Chen is definitely a smart person. She not only knows how to teach her children, but also knows how to read the situation.
Chen's mother obviously saw clearly that the civil servants in the Song Dynasty were far more popular than the military attachés, so she asked Chen Yaozi to give up martial arts and concentrate on learning.
You know, Chen Yaozi is definitely a rare martial arts genius, and he has the ambition to conquer the frontier immediately since he was a child.
Mother Chen was able to introduce him to the path of studying when he had clear ambitions, and also allowed him to read out his grades, which shows that Mother Chen is definitely good at teaching his son.
When Chen Yaozi was young, it was the time when the martial arts warriors in Bianjing City were at their most powerful.
At that time, as long as the family had a small income and had children of the right age, the children in the family were allowed to learn both civil and martial arts.
But Chen's mother made Chen Yaozi give up martial arts and decisively devote himself to studying.
From this point, it is not difficult to see that Chen’s mother understood the situation.
Many people may think that when brothers Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Guangyi were in power, the rumor of emphasizing civility and suppressing military power had already spread. Many people could tell it, and even Chen's mother could tell it, and it was very common.
But if you compare carefully, you will find out how smart Mrs. Chen is.
Those who are similar in age to the Chen brothers are Kou Zhun, Wang Zeng, Zhang Zhibai and others.
When Kou Zhun, Wang Zeng, Zhang Zhibai and others were young, almost all of them were good at both civil and military arts.
But Chen's mother decisively asked Chen Yaozi to give up martial arts and focus on studying.
This alone is enough to show that Mother Chen's vision is far higher than that of many people.
However, Chen’s mother repeatedly warned not to let Chen Yaozi practice martial arts, so where did Chen Yaozi’s strong body come from?
Kou Ji looked at Chen Yaozi suspiciously.
Chen Yaozi seemed to sense Kou Ji's thoughts, coughed dryly and said nothing.
When Kou Ji saw this, he smiled in his heart.
He found that Chen Yaozi was not a person who liked to listen to others' advice.
"Sir, the time has come, let's go in..."
Kou Ji nodded to Fan Zhongyan, and then said to Chen Yaozi: "If you have a chance, you can come and sit in the Privy Council."
Chen Yaozi didn't understand what Kou Ji was thinking, but Kou Ji took the initiative to invite him. Naturally, he couldn't refuse, so he nodded and agreed to the matter.
Kou Ji said no more and took Fan Zhongyan and Chen Yaozi to the gate of Gongyuan.
After issuing a seal and going through the process of 'identifying', the soldiers at the gate of Gongyuan opened the gate of Gongyuan.
The three people took the government servants into the Gongyuan and inspected everything in the Gongyuan one by one.
Among them, the most detailed inspection is the food, water, and seat number prepared for the candidates.
After everything was checked, the three people stamped their seals on the inspection documents, and then asked the soldiers to seal off the Gongyuan again.
The three people rested in a small courtyard next to the Gongyuan.
It lasted until midnight.
Four sedans appeared quietly at the gate of Gongyuan.
The soldiers stared at the sedan with wary faces. After the people in the sedan came out and revealed their true faces under the torch, the soldiers knelt on the ground.
Without waiting for the soldiers to speak.
Zhao Zhen was the first to speak: "I am visiting the Gongyuan this time and I must not make any noise."
After saying this, Zhao Zhen raised his hand.
When the soldiers heard Zhao Zhen's words, they did not dare to speak. They could only salute solemnly and stood up together.
Lu Yijian, Wang Zeng, and Zhang Zhibai also got off the sedan when the soldiers saluted Zhao Zhen.
When the soldiers saw that Zhao Zhen and the three chief ministers of the inner court had arrived, they were extremely frightened. They vaguely felt that something big was going to happen to Enke this time.
They have lived in Bianjing City for a long time and are aware of the recent rumors and rumors in Bianjing City.
At first, they also felt that Kou Ji kept those talented scholars in his house because he had an unofficial plan to appoint Jinshi.
But now that they saw Zhao Zhen and the three chief ministers of the inner court all appearing in Gongyuan, they realized that the matter might not be that simple.
What time is it now?
Midnight watch.
Zhao Zhen was patrolling the Gongyuan, and he was afraid that it would be the fourth watch.
At the fourth watch of the day, the scholars participating in the scientific examination had already started to go to the Gongyuan. If Zhao Zhen did not want to reveal his whereabouts, the best way was to stay in the Gongyuan.
If Zhao Zhen stayed in the Gongyuan, those scholars who conspired to stop the exam would cause trouble in the Gongyuan...
hiss……
Don't dare to think about it.
While the soldiers mourned in their hearts for the scholars who made trouble, they all stood at their respective positions, not daring to speak or move.
Zhao Zhen asked Chen Lin to inquire about it, and learned that Kou Ji and the others were staying in the side courtyard, so he went to the side courtyard.
But before he arrived at the side hospital, Kou Ji, Fan Zhongyan, and Chen Yaozi, who had already received the news, took the initiative to welcome him out.
"I will visit the official's house..."
Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "No need to be polite... take me around the Gongyuan."
Kou Ji agreed and ordered Fan Zhongyan and Chen Yaozi to take the seal. The three of them arrived at the gate of Gongyuan and showed the seal. The soldiers guarding the courtyard immediately opened the gate of Gongyuan.
Zhao Zhen waited until the gate of Gongyuan opened and then ordered: "A few of my dear friends will accompany me for a walk, while the others are waiting outside the door."
Chen Lin and others agreed.
Zhao Zhen led Kou Ji, Lu Yijian and others into Gongyuan. After they disappeared at the door, Chen Lin shook her fly whisk, took out a roll of imperial edict from her sleeve, and said lightly: "The official decree, seal the door!"
The soldiers did not dare to hesitate and decisively closed the gate of Gongyuan.
Lu Yijian and others were accompanying Zhao Zhen to inspect the Gongyuan when they suddenly heard the sound of the door closing and everyone's eyes widened.
Zhao Zhen said with a smile: "My dear friends, don't panic. I have asked people to seal the gate of Gongyuan just to see if it is really impenetrable after the gate of Gongyuan is sealed."
"I believe you are a ghost!"
Lu Yijian cursed secretly in his heart.
Zhao Zhen had people seal the door, making it clear that he wanted to trap them in the Gongyuan.
The purpose is to prevent the news from being leaked.
After all, Zhao Zhen and the three of them were not among the examiners.
If they frequently show up outside and are discovered by others, it is very likely that the troublemaking scholars will notice that there are changes in the imperial examination.
Zhao Zhen probably knew that those scholars were secretly plotting, so he was ready to teach them a lesson.
"It's so bad..."
Lu Yijian glanced at Zhao Zhen and then at Kou Ji beside Zhao Zhen, wailing in his heart.
He felt that everything Zhao Zhen did in the Gongyuan must be a decision made after discussing with Kou Ji.
Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji are now working together to deceive people, using methods that are more damaging than the other. Isn't this extremely bad?
While Zhao Zhen and Fan Zhongyan were talking, Lu Yijian suddenly grabbed Kou Ji's sleeve.
Kou Ji was walking forward when someone suddenly grabbed his sleeve, causing him to almost stumble and fall.
After he stabilized his figure, he looked at Lu Yijian angrily.
The expression on Lu Yijian's face was similar to Kou Ji's, "Didn't you promise me that you would never make a monster again?"
Kou Ji shouted in a low voice: "What did I do?"
Lu Yijian gritted his teeth and said, "Do you dare to say that what happened in Gongyuan has nothing to do with you?"
Kou Ji said angrily: "I have been bored at home for a month and a half. I have not entered the palace, and I have never seen the official family. Now the official family has sealed the Gongyuan. It is obviously his own decision. What does it have to do with me?"
Lu Yijian was slightly stunned.
Zhang Zhibai said from the side: "I can guarantee that Kou Ji has indeed not seen the official family in the past month and a half."
Lu Yijian looked at Zhang Zhibai and asked, "How do you know?"
Zhang Zhibai said calmly: "I accepted Kou Tianci as a disciple as promised. In recent days, Kou Tianci has been studying enlightenment articles at my house. He told me that Kou Ji has been concentrating on studying knowledge at my house recently and has never left the house."
Hearing this, Lu Yijian felt as if he had eaten a fly and said vaguely to Kou Ji, "I have wronged you..."
Kou Ji snorted coldly, "I am a pure and kind person. Don't always blame me for some bad things."
The corner of Lu Yijian's mouth twitched, but he did not speak.
He was wrong first and it was difficult to argue.
Several people accompanied Zhao Zhen around the Gongyuan, until they were transferred to the examination number.
Zhao Zhen found an exam number, sat in, had a little experience, and said with emotion: "I sometimes want to be like thousands of scholars, sitting in this examination room and competing with my peers."
"The noble status of an official belongs to heaven..."
Chen Yaozi subconsciously opened his mouth. Halfway through his words, when he saw everyone looking at him, he subconsciously closed his mouth.
Is there no one to flatter you?!
Chen Yaozi was a little confused.
Zhao Zhen stood up slowly and said with a smile: "I know that my status is different, and I am destined not to be like thousands of scholars. I have finished reading what I should read. Lu Aiqing, Wang Aiqing, and Zhang Aiqing, the three of you will stay with me in the main hall of the Gongyuan.
.
Kou Aiqing, just do whatever you have to do."
Lu Yijian, Kou Ji and others all saluted.
Zhao Zhen took Lu Yijian, Wang Zeng, and Zhang Zhibai to the main hall of Gongyuan.
Kou Ji took Fan Zhongyan and Chen Yaozi to the gate of Gongyuan.
On the way, Chen Yaozi asked with some confusion: "Privy Minister Kou, just now..."
Kou Ji knew what he wanted to ask, so he reminded Chen Yaozi, "If you stay in Bianjing for a long time in the future, you will know that officials do not like to listen to flattery from officials."
Not many people know this.
Zhao Zhen did not deliberately show his displeasure, so there were still some people in the court who liked to say flattering words in front of Zhao Zhen.
Zhao Zhen's attitude towards officials is very simple. If you flatter me, I will tolerate you as long as you can do practical things.
If you can only flatter and do nothing practical, then I cannot tolerate you.
In the past two years, there have been no changes in the officials of the two governments, but the officials of the Six Ministries and the Yushitai have undergone earth-shaking changes.
Many old faces left Bianjing quietly.
Many new faces appeared quietly in Bianjing City.
The officials in the court had almost changed completely without even realizing it.
Except for some veterans who hold important positions in the court, almost all other positions are filled with new faces.
Zhao Zhen was quietly changing the officials in the court according to his own thoughts.
Kou Ji, Lu Yijian and others were aware of this matter.
But no one stopped him.
One emperor and one courtier are not just words that can be said casually.
More than half of the ministers left behind by Zhao Heng were beheaded due to many previous changes, and the rest had completed their missions. Zhao Zhen no longer needed some of them, so he naturally chose to replace them.
Zhao Zhen is now growing the Song Dynasty, and he needs some enterprising officials to help him grow the Song Dynasty.
Kou Ji, Lu Yijian and others have the same purpose as Zhao Zhen, so naturally they will not stop this matter.
Chen Yaozi heard Kou Ji's reminder and bowed deeply to Kou Ji, saying: "Thank you, Privy Councilor Kou..."
Zhao Zhen hid some of his thoughts very deeply. Chen Yaozi had just returned to Beijing not long ago, so it was normal for him not to understand.
While the three of them were talking, they had already arrived at the gate of Gongyuan.
As soon as the fourth watch came, Chen Lin ordered the soldiers guarding the gate to open the gate of Gongyuan.
Kou Ji and three others appeared at the gate of Gongyuan.
Although the sky was dark, people were already gathering at the gate of Gongyuan.
The imperial examination is the most important exam in life for scholars. Few people dare to delay it, so they will only arrive early and not late.
It should be noted that the Gongyuan will be locked when the courses are opened. After the Gongyuan is locked, no one is allowed to enter or exit.
Even if Kou Ji, the chief examiner, wants to open the Gongyuan portal during the examination, he must be prepared to bear the responsibility of disrupting the examination.
There is only one person in the world who can enter and leave freely after the tribute courtyard is locked.
That person is Zhao Zhen.
But if he really did this, he would have to bear the reputation of being a foolish king.
It can be seen that as long as the scholars delay their time, they can only wait for the next subject.
If the court did not offer Enke, the next course would have to wait three years.
If the emperor decides on a whim and refuses to recruit scholars for more than ten years, the wait may be even longer.
Zhao Zhen in the history books didn't know what he thought after taking office. He didn't open a subject to get a scholar in the past ten years, which almost drove all the scholars in the world crazy.
There is a saying among the people that if you learn literary and martial arts, you will be able to return to the emperor's family.
What if the emperor doesn’t want you?
Are you going crazy?
Kou Ji felt that Zhao Zhen's cool operations in the history books could be learned from when necessary.
Anyway, with him here, even if Zhao Zhen never holds an imperial examination, he can still help Zhao Zhen find available talents.
This idea only remained in Kou Ji's mind for a moment, and then he was thrown out of his mind.
You can think about this kind of thing, but you can't put it into action.
If we really do this, we will be reversing history.
Kou Ji and the other three stopped at the gate of Gongyuan. The scholars at the gate were all shocked.
Someone took advantage of the darkness and shouted, "This imperial examination is unfair, we are going to stop the examination..."
"This imperial examination is unfair, we want to stop the examination!"
"..."
If someone starts, others will naturally follow.
In an instant, the gate of Gongyuan was drowned by the wave of sound.
Fan Zhongyan and Chen Yaozi both frowned and looked at Kou Ji, ready to see how Kou Ji would respond.
Kou Ji stood aside and watched with cold eyes, letting the scholars shout.
The shouts passed into the Gongyuan. Zhao Zhen, who was sitting in the main hall of the Gongyuan, turned to Lu Yijian and said: "The scholars all felt that the Spring Palace I presided over was unfair. How fair were the previous Spring Palaces?"
Lu Yijian, the three of them all had dark faces.
Because all three of them had presided over the imperial examination before.
Zhao Zhen's words sounded like compliments, but they were actually sarcastic.
Before the emergence of the anonymous system, fraud in imperial examinations was very serious.
There are countless people who have passed the Jinshi examination through connections.
After the name-blinding system was introduced, fraud became common.
When submitting papers, some scholars discussed the marks with the chief examiner and deputy examiners. As long as they wrote what they agreed upon in their essays, they would definitely be selected.
Or simply use remote calligraphy to write, so that people can clearly identify whose paper this is.
Fraud in imperial examinations occurred one after another in the Song Dynasty. How could Zhao Zhen not know about it?
He bluntly said that those imperial examinations with fraudulent practices were fair, but the imperial examinations he supervised were unfair. Isn't it ironic?
Lu Yijian said with a dark face: "This matter must be caused by some people with ulterior motives. We must investigate it carefully when the time comes."
"check?!"
Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "What are they doing? Since they don't want to be used by me, I just don't need them anymore."
Lu Yijian was shocked when he heard this.
After Zhao Zhen said these words, the future of those troublemaking scholars outside the door might be ruined.
If Zhao Zhen doesn't use them, who in the world would dare to use them?
Just like Liu Yong, no examiner dared to admit him when Zhao Heng was in power just because of one comment from Zhao Heng.
Zhao Zhen's words decided their whole lives.
Lu Yijian felt that the group of people making trouble outside were pretty stupid.
I don't understand the situation at all.
Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji, two evil-hearted people, made the civil and military governors of the Manchu Dynasty submissive.
A group of fledgling cubs are looking for trouble for them. I really don’t know what they think.
Lu Yijian was complaining about the scholars in his heart, but he finally said something for them, "The thunder and rain are all the kindness of the emperor, and I should not speak nonsense. It's just that some of the scholars who made trouble have good intentions and are just suffering."
Only at the instigation of traitors will they cause trouble.
Can the officials give them a chance considering their youth and ignorance?"
"Are they young? Are they ignorant?"
Zhao Zhen seemed to have heard a big joke, pointed at himself and said: "Most of them are older than me. Don't they know right from wrong?
They all say that reading is wise, but have they read to the point where it’s like a dog’s belly?
They are so stupid. If I give them a chance to serve as officials, I don't know how many things they will do to harm others and themselves.
If they become Jinshi, I will grant them magistrates in various places.
A herdsman official who faces the people directly.
Whether the people's lives are good or bad depends entirely on their thoughts.
They are so stupid, how can I safely leave my people to them?"
Wang Zeng said from the sidelines: "After all, it was Kou Ji who misled them first, and the fault is not entirely theirs."
Zhao Zhen snorted coldly and said: "So what if Kou Ji misled them? They just focus on taking part in the imperial examination. If they really want to be talented and fail to win, when the time comes to cause trouble, I will only praise them for their courage. Absolutely
I won't call them stupid.
The reason they are making trouble now is not because they don't believe Kou Ji, but they don't believe me or the court.
A small act can shake their trust in me and the court.
How dare I use them?"
What Zhao Zhen said was not to defend Kou Ji, but to tell the truth.
"Why……"
Zhang Zhibai sighed and said: "Some of them may have left their place of origin for the first time. They don't know that people outside are sinister, so they are easily deceived by others.
With a little training, they can still be used by the court."
After hearing Zhang Zhibai's words, Zhao Zhen's face became a little brighter, "I know that some of them are leaving their place of origin for the first time, and they are a little naive and can be easily taken advantage of.
For the sake of the three of you interceding for them, I will give them a chance.
Li Di wrote to me a few days ago, saying that the people in Hexi are at the critical moment of sinicization, and they need someone to carry out enlightenment.
If any of them are willing to go to Hexi to carry out enlightenment, after five years, I will allow them to take the scientific examination again, and after ten years, I will make them a Jinshi.
If you want people to look at you differently, you have to make some achievements for the Song Dynasty.
As long as he has made meritorious deeds, even if he directly writes to me to ask for help, I will give it to him without hesitation."
Lu Yijian and the other two looked at each other and saluted Zhao Zhen.
"The official sage..."
Zhao Zhen has already made concessions, so they can't keep pursuing him.
People always have to pay for the mistakes they make.
If people who made mistakes didn't have to bear any price, then the world would have been in chaos long ago.
The scholars outside Gongyuan had no idea that Zhao Zhen had already been sentenced to never be employed, five years of forced labor, and ten years of forced labor.
The scholars outside Gongyuan became more and more violent.
Where Kou Ji was standing, he was as steady as a rock, but Chen Yaozi couldn't stand any longer. He said to Kou Ji with a grimace: "If they keep shouting, I'm afraid there won't be any scholars taking part in the scientific examination."
Kou Ji said calmly: "No one who can pass the exam will leave."