The heavens set sail from the courtyard

Chapter 377 Trinity
After King Yong's family was executed, Ma Guowei and Zhou Bing, the main members of King Yong's party, also went to Huangquan Road.

As for the others, most of them were confiscated and exiled, and their female relatives were rushed into low status.

It took a while for this matter to subside, and then the court announced the time of the palace examination.

In December of the sixth year of Jiayou, Wang Gang, Sheng Changbai and Gu Tingye went to the palace to take part in the imperial examination.

A total of nearly 300 people participated in the palace examination. Emperor Zhao Zhen personally checked the papers, and Prince Zhao Shu proctored the examination.

Because of the rebellion of King Yong, the imperial court dismissed a large number of officials, and it was the time for employing people, so the palace examination was particularly important.

The three of Wang Gang are all Gongsheng students, and participating in the general examination is almost a formality. Jinshi is a certainty, but the ranking in the palace examination is still related to the quality of future officials.

The palace examination was not as long as the general examination, and it only took half a day. The emperor set the questions, and the students answered on the spot. Then the emperor and the officials of the Imperial Academy reviewed the papers and ranked them.

Among them, the top three in Yijia are the No. [-] pick, No. [-] and Tanhua.

After Wang Gang got the test paper, he finished it quickly, and he was very calm from the beginning to the end, unlike other students who were thinking hard, which immediately attracted the attention of Emperor Zhao Zhen.

"Prince, what's the name of that student." Zhao Zhen asked the prince next to him.

"Return to father, that man is Sheng Changfeng, the son of Master Sheng Hongsheng."

Zhao Zhen had some impression of the name Sheng Changfeng. After all, he was Huiyuan, and he almost got involved in King Yong's party at the beginning. If the prince Zhao Shu hadn't pleaded for mercy, Zhao Zhen wanted to avoid Wang Gang's fame.

"So he is Sheng Changfeng." Zhao Zhen felt a little unhappy.

Now Zhao Zhen doesn't like anyone who has anything to do with King Yong.

"I've seen the papers of Sheng Changfeng's test, and they are really good at writing, but unfortunately, they are a little younger, so they should practice more." Zhao Zhen said intentionally or unintentionally.

Prince Zhao Shu knew that he was going to suffer as soon as he heard it. The officials wanted Wang Gang to fail the ranking!

Being too young is an excuse, and because of King Yong's affairs, Zhao Zhen was against Wang Gang in his heart.

Prince Zhao Shu stepped forward to persuade him: "Father, why don't you take a look at Sheng Changfeng's paper first?"

Zhao Zhen said impatiently: "I have to read so many papers. Where can I read them? Let the Imperial Academy select the top ten first."

Prince Zhao Shu knew that things were turning around as soon as he heard it.

The palace examination is different from other examinations. The emperor will not ask questions about the Four Books and Five Classics, but ask the students to write an essay on current affairs.

This time, Zhao Zhen's topic, "Commercial Taxation", happened to hit on what Wang Gang is best at.

Regarding business and commercial taxation, I am afraid that no one in this era knows more than Wang Gang.

Based on the experience of later generations, he selectively wrote several suggestions for reforming commercial taxation, and even boldly proposed to reduce agricultural tax and increase commercial tax.

Wang Gang's full text is a policy of emphasizing business and benefiting farmers, and it is all dry goods. Compared with the splendid articles of other students, it is less empty talk and more practical.

The Imperial Academy quickly finished grading the papers, and then took out ten of the best papers and presented them to Zhao Zhen's desk.

Zhao Zhen picked up the first paper and took a look, it turned out to be Wang Gang's paper.

"Prince." Zhao Zhen frowned, and said to Zhao Shu in displeasure: "Didn't I say that I don't want to read Sheng Changfeng's paper?"

Prince Zhao Shu said respectfully: "Reporting to my father, after reviewing the papers by the Imperial Academy, it is unanimously agreed that Sheng Changfeng should be the first name in this imperial examination."

Zhao Zhen was slightly surprised, he didn't expect that the Imperial Academy would also have a unified opinion.

In the previous palace examinations, many officials of the Imperial Academy reviewed the papers, each with their own opinions, and there were always endless debates, so it was difficult to judge No. 1.

After all, everyone has different eyes, and everyone has different criteria for judging whether an article is good or bad.

Zhao Zhen immediately became interested in Wang Gang's paper, picked it up for a closer look, and then didn't stop.

There are too many dry goods in Wang Gang's paper. Not only is there a commercial and tax reform plan, but also the pros and cons of the reform are clearly listed, and there is even a five-year plan.

When Zhao Zhen saw the end, he even thought he was reading the minister's memorial, not the student's examination paper.

A quarter of an hour later, Zhao Zhen put down Wang Gang's paper, but quickly picked it up and read it again. After doing this three times, Zhao Zhen put down the paper completely.

"I do have some insights." Zhao Zhen put down the paper, said a word, and then picked up other students' papers.

This look at Zhao Zhen is like chewing wax.

There is no harm without comparison. After reading Wang Gang's paper, Zhao Zhen looked at other people's papers. They were all fake and flattering, and the people who read them drowsy.

In fact, it is easy to understand. Scholars in this era think that everything is inferior. Only those who are good at reading will not pay attention to such cheap businesses as business, and they don't know anything about business tax.

After Zhao Zhen read a few papers full of flattery, he couldn't take it anymore, and said impatiently: "Prince, who do you think will be the first in this palace examination?"

Zhao Shu didn't answer for a while, guessing what Zhao Zhen was thinking.

There is almost no doubt that Zhao Zhen doesn't like Wang Gang. If Wang Gang is named the first name, it will definitely arouse Zhao Zhen's disgust.

But Wang Gang's papers were so well written, it might be unfair to be the first, not to mention that Wang Gang had saved Zhao Shu's life.

Zhao Shu was in a dilemma, but Zhao Zhen said:
"You don't have to worry about me, just tell No.1 in your heart."

Zhao Shu finally said: "Sheng Changfeng is not comparable to other students, regardless of his literary talent or vision, and he should be the top of the list."

Zhao Zhen's smile was restrained, and his face was gloomy, as if he was very angry.

This is the first time that Zhao Shu disagreed with Zhao Zhen after he was made the crown prince.

No matter what happened before, Zhao Shu always followed Zhao Zhen's lead.

Zhao Zhen picked up Wang Gang's paper again. Although he thought Wang Gang was the best in his heart, when he thought of the unclear relationship between him and King Yong, he felt a shock in his heart.

"I remember that Sheng Changfeng is the head of the current department. How about the exam in another country?" Zhao Zhen asked suddenly.

Zhao Shu replied honestly: "Sheng Changfeng is also the first in the provincial examination."

Zhao Zhen raised his eyebrows and said, "No matter how top the palace examination is, he won three yuan in a row?!"

Zhao Shu replied: "Sheng Changfeng's talent is obvious to all, and he really has the strength to win three consecutive championships."

Zhao Zhen asked: "The Sheng family, is that the Sheng family who married Mrs. Wang?"

Zhao Shu didn't understand what Zhao Zhen asked, so Prime Minister Han Qi stood up and said:
"Old Master Wang's daughter-in-law is married to Master Sheng Hongsheng."

Zhao Zhen suddenly smiled and said: "I remember, Grand Master Wang once won three yuan in a row, was entrusted with a heavy responsibility by the first emperor, and later paid homage to the prime minister."

Zhao Shu finally understood what Zhao Zhen meant.

At that time, Mrs. Wang won three consecutive awards, but she did not stay in the Imperial Academy. Instead, she was released as an official by the former emperor, and she was transferred back to Bianjing after several years of experience.

"My father, although Sheng Changfeng has outstanding talent, he is still young. He can be awarded the number one scholar, and then he will be released as an official to practice hard for a few years."

Satisfied, Zhao Zhen drew a circle on Wang Gang's paper with a pen, and said: "In this palace examination, Sheng Changfeng has outstanding literary talents and extraordinary insights. He is selected as the number one scholar and awarded the post of magistrate of Hongzhou Prefecture on Jiangnan West Road."

Zhao Shu frowned, unexpectedly Zhao Zhen transferred Wang Gang to Hongzhou Mansion.

Although Hongzhou Mansion belongs to Jiangnan Road, it is closer to Jiangxi, not rich, and rich in bandits.

Wang Gang went to that place to become an official, not to mention his future, he might not even be able to guarantee his life.

Zhao Shu wanted to persuade Zhao Zhen to take back the imperial order, but just as he took a small step, the prime minister behind him, Han Qi, pulled his robe.

"His Royal Highness, the emperor's fate is difficult." Han Qi said in a low voice.

Zhao Shu suddenly felt struck by lightning, and only then realized that if he persuaded Zhao Zhen again, he might be implicated himself, and it would be more likely to arouse the disgust of the officials.

After Wang Gang was selected as the No. [-] pick, the remaining No. [-] No. [-] picks were much simpler, and the short ones were top-notch. Zhao Zhen randomly selected two papers that had passed the article and designated them as No. [-] and No. [-] No. [-] candidates.

As for the other rankings, Zhao Zhen lost interest and asked Zhao Shu to decide the rankings.

"Prince, make a copy of Sheng Changfeng's paper, and take a good look."

Zhao Zhen just hated Wang Gang, and he was very optimistic about his business tax proposal, so he asked Zhao Shu to take it back and study it, and make a list in a few days.

Can Zhao Shu say no?He thought about meeting Wang Gang when he had the opportunity, on the one hand to appease him, and on the other hand to ask for advice on business tax reform.

The third day after the palace examination is the day when the rankings are released, and it is also the busiest day in Bianjing.

Sheng Hong waited at home for three days, anxious like ants on a hot pot.

After finally waiting for the day when the list was released, he asked his attendant Dong Rong to watch the list before dawn.

He didn't wait for Dongrong to come, but he waited for someone to announce the good news.

When the announcer said that Wang Gang had won the number one prize, and that he had won three prizes in a row, Sheng Hong was so happy that he almost fainted. It was Wang Ruofu who quickly supported him, so that he would not make a fool of himself.

After the rankings are released, the top three in the first class need to go to the palace to thank them, and at the same time the emperor will formally appoint officials.

Wang Gang learned that although he won three yuan in a row, he was transferred to Dangzhi County, Hongzhou Prefecture.

On the contrary, the lower-ranked No. [-] Tanhua, and even the top five in the second class stayed in the Imperial Academy.

He understood that he was still implicated in the matter of King Yong, and was disgusted by the official Zhao Zhen.

(End of this chapter)