The ruthless emperor in the late Ming Dynasty forced Chongzhen to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 287 Simple Exam Questions
After the Minister of the Ministry of Rites resigned, Zhang Yan no longer had the calmness just now, but immediately wanted to send a [-]-mile urgent message to remind Emperor Xiaozhu to send the examination questions of the college examination quickly so that they can be printed in advance.

Zhang Yan couldn't help being in a hurry. The 400 million exam papers were printed. Without thinking about it, I knew that it would definitely not be printed in a short time. If it was not printed in advance, it would be impossible to make it in time.

But obviously, Zhang Yan's worries were superfluous. For the new imperial examination, Zhu Cihong paid more attention to it than anyone else. If it wasn't for the fact that the red lady was about to give birth, she would have committed suicide in Nanjing long ago.

So after learning that the South has started to record names, they got out the exam questions, and then specially sent five hundred imperial guards to escort them to Nanjing.

Zhang Yan didn't expect that as soon as her [-]-mile urgent request was sent out, Lang'er's exam questions would arrive.

At this moment, in the study, Zhang Yan sent away almost all the court ladies, took the sealed cylinder for storing the examination papers, and opened it up by herself.

Because the seal above not only clearly stated that the queen mother Zhang Yan personally sealed it, but also the emperor's big seal, it can be seen that Emperor Zhu attached great importance to the examination papers, no less than passing on the throne edict.

So don't mention others, even Zhang Yan herself was a little nervous at this time, and after a long time of fussing, she finally took it apart, and her palms were covered with sweat.

In addition to the two test papers, there was also a secret letter in the cylinder. Zhang Yan ignored the secret letter, but picked up a test paper and read it first.

Obviously, they are also very curious about what kind of exam questions Zhu Cihong will ask, so they can't wait.

But then I was stunned, the size of the examination paper was about the same size as the royal newspaper, and I saw some simple numbers and symbols and a few Chinese characters on it.

Zhang Yan also recognized the ten simple numbers and symbols, and immediately knew that this was a math test paper. Looking at the rough handwriting, she couldn't help showing a wry smile.

Obviously recognized that it was written by Zhu Cihong himself.

"It's too simple!"

After Zhang Yan read it carefully, she said to herself, because she found the above questions, there is no one she can't do. According to the explanation on the test paper, she can get a perfect score in the test.

Then I picked up another test paper and looked at it. This one was full of Chinese characters, which was much more normal.

"This is really as long as you can learn to count, you can pass the exam for a scholar!"

After reading the two test papers, Zhang Yan couldn't help but sighed, it's okay to count the test papers, but the one in his hand, as long as the children who have completed the elementary school, most of them can pass.

At this moment, Princess Kunxing hurried in.

"Auntie, I heard that brother Huang sent the examination papers for the college?"

"Ah! You dead girl, you are becoming more and more unruly, why did you break in without notifying me?"

Zhang Yan shivered in fright, and cursed angrily.

"Auntie, calm down, the child was also in a hurry and forgot to report." Seeing that she was frightened like this, Princess Kunxing hurriedly apologized.

"You can't read this test paper. Since you want to take the imperial examination, you must avoid suspicion!" Zhang Yan waved her hand and subconsciously hid the test paper.

"Well, the boy is just a little curious. Now that I read the exam questions, I am indeed suspected of cheating."

Princess Kunxing said after thinking about it, then she really resigned and left the study.

After Princess Kunxing left, Zhang Yan picked up the secret letter and read it. After reading it, she relaxed a lot of tension, and admired Emperor Zhu's arrangement from the bottom of her heart.

Immediately, he ordered people to summon Dong Xiaowan and Li Xiangjun.

"The left supervisor Dong Wan and the right supervisor Li Jun of the Propaganda Supervisor, pay homage to the queen mother, and the queen mother is blessed!"

Half an hour later, the two girls came to the study with nervous expressions on their faces. This was the first time the Empress Dowager had summoned them. In the past, even if there was something to do, they would just let people come to publicize the supervisor's orders.

"Be flat."

Zhang Yan's tone was light, obviously he didn't have much affection for the two women.

"Thank you Queen Mother."

The two girls hurriedly thanked each other.

They also knew that the queen mother didn't want to see them women from brothels, so they were full of doubts about the queen mother's summoning in person this time.

"Dong Wan, Li Jun, if the propaganda supervisor goes all out, how many newspapers can be printed in a month?"

Zhang Yan didn't talk to the two of them too much, and asked directly.

Although the two women didn't know why the queen mother suddenly cared about the newspaper, Dong Xiaowan replied immediately: "Report to the queen mother, if we go all out, the publishing department can print 50 copies of newspapers in just three days."

"What? You can print 50 newspapers in three days? This..." Zhang Yan almost dropped her jaw in shock.

"Yes, Empress Dowager, the Royal Newspaper comes out every three days, and the number of the most recent issue has reached 40." Dong Xiaowan explained, but seeing the empress dowager's gaffe, she felt a little complacent.

Because if we go all out, regardless of the cost, let alone printing 50 copies in three days, even 100 million copies will not be a problem.

"Your newspaper, Aijia, occasionally reads it. How can you print 50 copies in three days? There are so many newspapers, and each copy costs only three pennies. I'm afraid you will lose a lot of money in one month, right?"

Zhang Yan restrained her expression, looked at the two women and asked, she didn't read the newspaper occasionally, but read it regularly, so she really couldn't figure out how the two women managed to print 50 copies of the newspaper in three days, what was needed? Where did the funds come from? I didn't allocate a penny to them.

"Back to the Empress Dowager, the Printing Department under the Propaganda Supervisor currently has 2000 skilled engravers, who can carve a complete block within three days. One block can print 20 newspapers in a day and night. A block of [-] yuan is enough. [-] copies, as for the required funds, they are allocated by Fengyue Division, Queen Mother, here are the detailed account books..."

After Dong Xiaowan finished explaining, she took out a thick account book, apparently well prepared.

"In the future, you can present the account book to His Majesty yourself, and the Ai family will not read it." Zhang Yan waved his hand.

Obviously, he didn't plan to interfere with the propaganda supervisor's accounts, so as not to ask her to allocate funds at that time. The propaganda supervisor looked like a bottomless pit, and he might lose millions of taels of silver in a year.

But I finally understand that the Propaganda Supervisor can print 50 copies of newspapers in three days, and I also understand why Lang'er is not in a hurry.

Secretly, these two famous prostitutes, relying on Lang'er's favor, were so bold that they recruited 2 engravers to carve and carve day and night. The number of people must exceed [-].

Although she felt that the two women were a little lawless, and it was not worth paying such a high price to print newspapers, and even made a fool of themselves, Zhang Yan still did not intend to intervene.

After all, the appearance of the two women is right there, and she wouldn't believe it if they didn't have the couch of the dragon, otherwise the two women would never dare to be so bold and make the Propaganda Supervisor so powerful, saying that they are the number one yamen in the inner court Not too much.

Seeing that the Queen Mother did not intend to pursue the matter of the Propaganda Supervisor, the two women also breathed a sigh of relief. They naturally understood that the Queen Mother had misunderstood their relationship with His Majesty, but they did not intend to explain.

"Did the two of you sign up for next year's college exam?"

"Back, back to the queen mother, the minister and the right supervisor Li Jun have signed up."

Dong Xiaowan was startled, and replied with some anxiety, Li Xiangjun's face also changed, obviously thinking that the queen mother called them here for this matter, and felt the most uneasy for a while.

Zhang Yan ignored the nervousness of the two girls, she would not care about their affairs, she waved her hands and said, "You don't want to participate next year, you can take part in the next year, this is the exam question for next year's college exam, you first Let's see!"

"what!"

The two girls suddenly looked dazed and cute, a little at a loss, but Zhang Yan groaned softly, and the two hurried forward in small steps in fright, picked up the test paper carefully, and looked at it with pale faces.

Seeing the two girls reading with trembling hands, Zhang Yan didn't explain, until they finished reading, she said with a solemn face: "According to the contents of these two test papers, each of them will print 400 million copies. how much time is required?"

"Return, return to the queen mother, if the newspaper is stopped, it will only take one month to complete."

Dong Xiaowan replied after thinking for a while, the two women finally understood the purpose of the Queen Mother calling them here.

Zhang Yan heard that after only one month, her senses towards the two women were finally not that bad, and the look on her face softened a little.

Li Xiangjun hesitated for a while, and finally said boldly: "Qi Empress Dowager, now the royal newspaper has a great influence, if it suddenly stops selling, I'm worried..."

(End of this chapter)