Start with detective Li Yuanfang

Chapter 378 I agree, who dares to object
Zichen Palace.

Li Hong sat on the dragon chair and listened to the discussions of the officials below.

For a weak and sickly person like Li Hong, it was very difficult for him to sit up straight all day in front of the officials without losing his demeanor.

So after Li Yan's suggestion, the large royal tent where the two saints sat in the hall was removed and replaced with large seats, which are exquisite and elegant, just like the dragon chairs of the Song Dynasty.

Sitting down, Li Hong immediately felt much more comfortable.

This kind of small details of life are very important. The ancient emperors had a lot of bad habits in life, and a good body can be ruined.

For example, Song Renzong didn't like to wear socks since he was a child, and he was always barefoot. During that time, there were too many natural disasters, and he often prayed barefoot, and his body became weaker and weaker. In the first year of Jiayou, he stood barefoot in the snow to pray. Day fell into a coma.

Li Hong lived very hard since he was a child, and he was very afraid of the cold, but he didn't have that bad problem. Unfortunately, due to the limitations of the times, although high tables and chairs had appeared, until the late Tang Dynasty, even the Song Dynasty, the kneeling method was still the upper class. The mainstream of society, sitting with vertical feet showing the lines of the legs, is unacceptable to many people.

So the sage sat like this, and the censor played, requesting to change back to the censor.

Li Hong's good temper is a good temper, so naturally he ignored this matter.

A sage's life is also his life, and this is not a big court meeting. To put a burden on his body for the sake of saving face is really disgusting.

At this time, Li Hong sat comfortably on the dragon chair, and subconsciously looked at the leader of the inner guard cabinet who was most compatible with the monarch and his ministers.

A quiet and handsome man appeared in sight.

Sitting in the first row were five prime ministers and auxiliary ministers, who were discussing the matter of going to the Eastern Capital.

The leader in the second row was Li Yan, with a calm face, not in a daze, but listening to the discussions of the ministers, he hardly spoke.

The sense of presence is very strong, and when other people communicate, they will glance over from time to time.

Just when the sage couldn't help but stare at him, Miao Shenke who was sitting in the back row got up and saluted: "If you have a book, please play!"

As soon as he came out, Yuan Wanqing and other five people also came out together, all in scarlet robes.

The six-member group of Beimen bachelors have all served Fei at this time, and they have been promoted to the fifth rank.

In the past, they used six or seven ranks of official positions to share the power of the prime minister. They seemed to have unlimited glory, but in fact, they were all the extension of Empress Wu's power, and Li Zhi's check and balance on the prime minister was inconsistent with the system. I held my nose and endured it.

Now they have truly become the fifth rank. Although they are still far away from the prime minister, the real power in their hands has inspired the six of them, and they have become the confidants of the saints who are determined.

They stepped forward, causing other courtiers to stare at them, and they became slightly vigilant, and then they heard Li Hong's slightly energetic voice: "Miao Langzhong, tell me."

Miao Shenke is now a doctor of the Ministry of Rites, in charge of the five subjects of the tribute examination, that is, Jinshi, Mingjing, Mingfa, Shu, and arithmetic. , adopt the vague name system."

As soon as this remark came out, many courtiers in the hall suddenly changed their colors, and Miao Shenke's next words were even more blunt: "Since the implementation of the imperial examination system, its fairness has been questioned all the time."

"The grading examiners of the Ministry of Rites can directly see the candidates' names and know their family backgrounds. If they are students of the second library, as long as their grammar is compliant and their writing style is good, they can basically pass the exam."

"On the other hand, tribute candidates from other states do not have a good reputation. Few of them can pass the high school. In recent years, there has also been a bad habit of going to the door of the rich and powerful, asking for papers, and striving to gain reputation before the official exam."

"The difference is certainly due to the strong style of study in Kyoto, but it is obvious that the imperial examinations are unevenly graded!"

The faces of many courtiers in the hall sank.

How dare you say it!
Miao Shenke went on to say: "The names of the scholars' test papers are all vague, and the officials who review the papers don't know the details of their backgrounds. This way, the results of the selection will be more fair."

"In this way, not only can we avoid acts of favoritism and fraud, but we can also stop the trend of asking for papers!"

"Of course, even a vague name cannot be completely fair. The familiar handwriting and style can still be detected by the examiner, and other fraudulent methods may be born, but I think that we should not give up because of choking. The reform of the imperial examination system is urgent!"

After he finished speaking, he presented the memorial, and the hall fell silent.

Just when the opposing courtiers, including Yu Shitai, had a sneer in their mouths, and were thinking about how to refute this statement, another voice sounded: "I agree with what Miao Langzhong said."

The officials were startled at first, because the voice was strange here, and then they suddenly realized who it was, and they all looked sideways.

Li Yan got up unhurriedly and went out.

The officials looked at Miao Shenke again, and immediately understood, no wonder this man is so courageous, it turned out that Li Yuanfang was behind him.

After Li Yan opened his mouth, he remained silent, but his eyes glanced at several people inadvertently.

Anyone who was stared at by him felt chills in their hearts.

Although the internal guards were not plum blossom internal guards, they would not stare at the personal virtues of officials, but they were not afraid of [-] or just in case. They thought about the bad things they did before, some were innumerable, and they shut their mouths immediately...

It was proposed by the Beimen scholar, which is basically the approval of the sage. For such a trivial matter, it is not worthwhile to disobey the meaning of the sage and offend Li Yuanfang.

It is indeed a trivial matter, because the imperial examination in the early Tang Dynasty was not the only way to select officials, and even occupied a relatively small share. After the imperial examination was successful, it was only qualified to select people. If you want to really hold an official position, you still need to wait for the official election .

As for the other ways of selecting qualifications, besides having a good father and becoming an official, the man mentioned by Luoyang Gong Siguang before, the royal family will act as the atmosphere group when the funeral is held. After the relevant ceremony is over, he can also be automatically selected. person qualifications.

This is almost the shortest way to become an official, so the number of wanlang in the Jin Dynasty was as many as [-], and as few as [-] or so. Some emperors deliberately issued an edict to stop the selection of wanlang out of frugal considerations. .

But in the Tang Dynasty, there was a tendency to overflow at this point. There were more than [-] prostitutes at most.

He Zhizhang was demoted because of the assignment of the wanlang. The wild history also added details, saying that in order to appease the noble children who did not choose the wanlang, He Zhizhang actually told them that the other prince was about to die, and your chances will come soon. Then, he was demoted.

The details recorded in unofficial history are not credible, but this kind of incident also reflects the popularity of Ban Lang from the side. Many ancient epitaphs unearthed in later generations record his experience of entering officialdom through serving as Ban Lang.

Think about the scene when these people and those who came from the imperial examination participated in the official election together:
"I have been studying hard for decades. I was admitted to be the number one in the first-level college entrance examination, and then I won the number one in the college entrance examinations all over the country. Only then did I sit here. What about you?"

"I cried a lot."

Because of this, the difficulty of the reform of the imperial examination system is actually less resistance. After all, there are other identification methods after the name is blurred, and the officials will be selected later. It is not so easy to be an official. It will be proposed at this time with the approval of the sage and the support of Li Yan.

At this time, Li Yan focused on the most powerful opponents, and there were scattered ones. Even Miao Shenke and others couldn't argue. After arguing for half an hour, they all died down.

Li Hong nodded with great satisfaction: "Draft the detailed rules and announce to the world that starting from today's imperial examinations, the question papers will adopt the system of vague names."

The voices of the officials were higher or lower: "Your Majesty is wise!"

Li Yan sat back on his knees and returned to the standby mode, but the ministers secretly glanced at him more times.

After the important meeting in the Zichen Hall was over, Li Hong's voice came: "Li Geling, Miao Langzhong, Yuan Langzhong...stay here!"

The courtiers who were named stayed behind, Li Hong got up from the dragon chair, walked down the steps, and came to the front with some excitement: "The reform of the imperial examination system is smooth, thanks to everyone's contribution!"

The Beimen bachelor hurriedly saluted: "Don't dare! Don't dare!"

Li Yandao: "It is His Majesty who loves the people for his subjects, and scholars all over the world will remember His Majesty's kindness."

Li Hong couldn't help laughing.

Miao Shenke said again: "It's just the first step to blur your name. You have to try a few subjects at first. After the injustice is slightly improved, you can then try the palace test that Li Geling said."

Li Hong was also very excited. He heard the idea of ​​disciples of the Son of Heaven at first, and thought it was unnecessary. But after thinking about it carefully, he felt that it could really improve the loyalty of his subjects to the saints. A trusted minister.

Li Yan added: "Everyone should keep an eye on the regular department and the system department. You must not let this law become a special case. It must become a common practice. Over time, if selfish people still want to obstruct it, scholars in the world will not let it go. over those people."

Wu Zetian took the route of making subjects, that is, she specially prepared exam questions and let students answer them.

So those changes that she seemed to make to promote poor people, when she stepped down, all disappeared, because there was no real system, it was just the occasional need of the emperor, and of course the emperor would succeed to the throne in this way. A temporary approach, but a return to the annual regular course.

Li Hong also wanted to start with the system department at first. After all, the system department is better to change, and it was Li Yan who persuaded him.

In a sense, the new dynasty is crossing the river by touching Wu Zhou, learning the lessons of Wu Zetian's mistakes and making further progress.

At this time, Miao Shenke promised: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will definitely keep a close eye on the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Officials, Wailang, and not let them play tricks on it."

Yuan Wanqing's eyes flickered slightly, and he suggested: "I think that this time, the selection of officials through the imperial examination can give priority to taking care of scholars from poor families in Guannei. If the poor families in Guannei can benefit and divide their power, the resistance of your Majesty to go to the Eastern Capital will also increase." Get smaller."

As soon as Li Yan heard this, he knew that the old line of Beimen scholars fighting for power and profit could no longer hold back.

At first, when the Beimen scholar took refuge in the prince, he put forward the "Eight Things of Jianyan", in which he wanted to assist the prince and deal with the officials of the noble family who were born in the noble family. When the emperor ascended the throne, the reform of the imperial examination system saw the first light, and he wanted to take the opportunity to sow discord.

However, after thinking about it for a while, Li Hong came to a decision: "This is the first tribute examination under the system of ambiguous names. consider."

Li Yan smiled, and the Beimen scholar looked at the saint, also submissively, and said in unison:

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

(End of this chapter)