Women Wearing Men: The Growth Path of the Bastards of the Aristocratic Family

A total of 260 tribute scholars were admitted, of which 39 were from the south, and only [-] from the north.The gap was so large, if Cai Zhichuan hadn't been the chief examiner himself, he would have wondered if all the marking officials had conspired to cheat in the imperial examination.

It is obvious to all that the style of writing in the south is more prosperous than in the north, but after all, Shuntian Mansion, where the capital is located, is located in the north, and even if there is a gap between the north and the south, it is not that big.Among the [-] tributes admitted in previous years, the northern scholars can occupy about [-] places, and the fluctuation of the ratio is not large.

Five years ago, the north was hit by a locust plague, the economy was severely damaged, and the style of writing was weak. In contrast, the south was not affected much. Therefore, in the last exam, only 63 northern scholars took up the quota.Unexpectedly, after three years of recuperation, this number has not increased but decreased, and has shrunk sharply to 39.

Among the 260 places occupied by scholars in the south, the proportion of scholars in the Jiangnan area is particularly large. There are more than 160 people from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.Nine of the top ten are from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and only one No. 8 is from the Shuntian Prefecture, barely grabbing a seat for northern scholars in the top ten.

What's more terrible is that most of the officials participating in the review are from the south. With such a proportion of officials and such a proportion of admissions, it is difficult for people not to be suspicious.

Everyone looked at the admission list, sweat broke out on their foreheads in an instant, and a deputy examiner stammered: "This, this is too far away...how about we adjust it?"

"How to adjust?" Cai Zhichuan glanced over, his face was ugly, "This admission list is the result of our hard work for seven days. It is fair and just, and there is no favoritism or fraud. Why should we adjust?"

"What's more, the examiners and Fei Yuwei are gone now. Isn't it a sign that we have a ghost in our hearts when we adjust the list without telling them? In the future, things will go wrong, and we have reason and no reason. Who can testify for you and me? "

The deputy examiner was confused and flustered: "Yes, but if we make a list according to this list, those northern scholars will definitely make a fuss. Then the situation will be difficult to clean up. How will the court come up with an explanation?"

Cai Zhichuan took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice: "Well, let's not send this list to the cabinet for signature, but first present it to His Majesty, and tell him the truth. Should we just release the list like this, or renew the list?" It is up to His Majesty to adjust the list."

Everyone hastily agreed: "Okay, that's it, thank you Mrs. Cai for a trip."

Cai Zhichuan nodded, said no more, and took the list to see Emperor Jingfeng.

Half an hour later, Cai Zhichuan came back, without saying a word, with a serious expression on his face.

Everyone rushed to meet him and asked, "How is it? What did your Majesty say?"

Cai Zhichuan still did not speak, and only showed them the list for themselves to read.Everyone took the list and looked at it, and there was Emperor Jingfeng's jade seal on it, but there was no comment.

"Your Majesty, what does this mean? Just publish the list according to this list?"

Cai Zhichuan shook his head and sighed, "I haven't seen Your Majesty."

"Then this chapter?"

Cai Zhichuan said: "Your Majesty has a headache. Although he has improved recently, he still doesn't want to see the courtiers. When I went to ask for an audience outside the palace, His Majesty probably thought that he was simply asking him to look at the list, so he only asked Eunuch Ning to bring the list in. , I took it out again after stamping the stamp. The time was so short that I suspect that he didn’t read it seriously at all, and I’m afraid he didn’t know about the big gap in the admission ratio of scholars between the North and the South.”

Everyone was at a loss for a while: "Then what should we do? Do we want us to take such a risk to publish the list? How about Mr. Cai, please go to see His Majesty again and explain the situation clearly?"

Cai Zhichuan said helplessly: "It is said that Master Qin, the commander of Feiyuwei, didn't see His Majesty some time ago. Do you think I can succeed? I'm afraid I will be kicked out by the guards if I keep pestering me for a while. The list can be sent to the cabinet, and the cabinet will discuss and decide whether to publish the list accordingly."

Soon after, in the Wenyuan Pavilion where the cabinet ministers work.

Not knowing why, Fang Shu walked in the door, looked at the rare cabinet ministers gathered in the room, and said with a smile: "It's time to be on duty, and you all came so together."

No one answered, and Fang Shu didn't care. His eyes fell on the admission list on the table. He picked it up and flipped through it. He said unexpectedly, "The signatures of all the cabinet officials are required before the list is released. Why don't you sign it?"

Gu Yuanhui looked a little unnatural, and said with a dry smile: "It's not that you haven't arrived yet, we want to wait for you to sign first."

The rest of the people echoed: "Yes, yes, Mr. Fang is the chief assistant of the cabinet. We should take Mr. Fang first. Mr. Fang will sign first and then we will sign."

"It's just an order, is it so important? Although I am the chief assistant of the cabinet, we are all ministers who share the worries of His Majesty. It is not the same whoever signs first... No, why are you looking at me like this?" Fang Shu was not there Smiling contentedly, he was about to pick up a pen to sign, but seeing the weird expressions on everyone's faces, he immediately became vigilant.

After reading the list carefully again, Fang Shu realized something was wrong, and suddenly raised his head to look at the crowd: "Why are there so few northern scholars admitted?"

Gu Yuanhui looked embarrassed: "That's why we didn't dare to sign first. Of the three hundred tribute scholars, only 39 are from the north. This list has hidden dangers at first glance. Whoever signs it will be held accountable. Mr. Fang, you It is the chief assistant of the cabinet, so naturally you are required to start this first, and we will dare to sign if you sign."

Cai Zhichuan stood up and explained everything to Fang Shu, and finally added: "I, Cai Zhichuan, can guarantee that during the entire examination process, there will be absolutely no one doing favoritism, and I don't believe that anyone can come between me and Feiyu." Under Wei's nose, so many southern scholars were admitted under the cover of the sky. No matter how outrageous the list is, it is true, and no one has tampered with it."

Gu Yuanhui sighed sadly, and then said: "But this is the joint. We know that this list is true. Do the majority of northern scholars know? The difference in proportion is so big, let alone them, I dare not read it." Believe it. If they break out at that time, His Majesty will be held accountable, and we will be the first to bear the brunt."

Another person said: "But the list will be released in two days. During this period, you have to fill in the list and enter it in the register... etc. The affairs are complicated. The list must be handed over to the relevant yamen before tonight at the latest, otherwise it will be too late. If it comes to release the list I didn't release the list at the time, I'm afraid the trouble will be even bigger."

Hidden dangers are buried in the list. If you sign, you may have problems, and if you don't sign, you will even have problems.The emperor is temporarily out of politics, and the decision-making power of the matter falls to the cabinet. It is neither advancing nor retreating. It is really difficult to make a choice.

Fang Shu's face was gloomy, and he walked around for several times without saying a word. After all, he made up his mind and said with a final word: "Sign! If something happens, Fang Shu will bear it first!"