People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 714 Donggong deploys troops, who is the number one scholar

The Battle of Tibet.

The question of the imperial examination: Tubo on the western front is disturbed frequently and repeatedly invaded the frontier. How should the imperial court fight back against Tubo and revive the majesty of the Tang Dynasty.

……

Under the attention of many court chiefs, a group of Jinshi swayed their pens and offered advice and suggestions on many aspects of border troubles and imperial conquests from diplomacy, military strategy, strategy, logistics, and military morale.

For a moment, in the entire hall, there was only the sound of writing.

The palace examination is a major event for the imperial court. Many people may not be able to make it to the Hanyuan Palace after preparing for the imperial examination for several years. Now that they have reached the last level, they are naturally very hardworking.

Li Xuanhong, Shaoqing of the Temple, stands behind all the ministers.

Ahead, all the prime ministers of the three provinces under Zhongshu's sect, Shangshu, were there.

The six ministers and the supervisors of the nine temples also stood behind.

The Ministry of Officials, the Ministry of Rites, Honglu Temple, and other related officials are not bad.

At two o'clock in the morning and two o'clock in the afternoon, until the end of Shen Shi and the beginning of You Shi, the sound of the bell and chime sounded, and all the Jinshi in the hall stopped writing.

Although some people were annoyed, they couldn't write another word.

"The time has come for all sentient beings to withdraw."

Li Xuan walked to the front of the main hall and shouted loudly to the many Jinshi.

"Here!" A group of Jinshi slightly bowed their hands towards the empty throne, and then retreated slowly.

This is Li Xuan's duty today as a palace examination ceremonial officer.

Before the palace examination, after the palace examination, a group of scholars were called out loudly.

This was originally the responsibility of Yang Shan, the Shaoqing of Honglu Temple, but for some reason, he asked for leave a few days earlier to take a bath, and the task was assigned to Li Xuan.

After the palace examination is over, all the sentient beings leave the stage, and the next step is for the ministers to judge the papers.

There is no need to wait too long for the palace examination in the Tang Dynasty. Basically, the examination is completed today, and the examiners of the Ministry of Officials, as well as the ministers of the central government, will be ranked that night.

Early in the morning tomorrow, the palace examination list will be announced to the public.

There are a total of 39 exam papers, and a dozen or so individuals will judge the papers, and each person will have at most three or four exam papers. As long as there is no selfishness, everything will be over soon, and it will not even affect their respective return home at night.

Li Xuan glanced at the examination papers distributed to each prime minister, he was a little curious, what kind of champion will be selected in this year's palace examination?

In the examination, the first place was Shanzhou Cheng Xingmou, and the second place was Anlu Xuqie.

Will there be a big difference between the result of the palace test and the general test?

……

At some point, a drizzle suddenly fell on the square outside the main hall.

The entire Daming Palace, and the entire Chang'an, were all shrouded in a layer of drizzle.

But in Hanyuan Hall, everything was proceeding in an orderly manner. The officials of various ministries and prime ministers quickly scanned the test papers.

Those who are qualified to enter the top ten are placed on one side, and the rest are placed on the other side.

According to the regulations of the imperial court, the examiners of the official department and the ministers of the central government must select the top ten candidates in the palace examination and send them to the emperor for the emperor to select the top three candidates.

Li Xuanhong, Shaoqing of the Temple, was supposed to leave after the palace examination and the etiquette was over, but because he had something to do, he approached Li Xian.

"Your Highness!" Li Xuan called Li Xian aside in a low voice.

Li Xian glanced back at the empty throne, cupped his hands at Li Xuan and said, "What's the matter, Uncle Wang?"

Li Xuan bowed deeply to Li Xian and said: "I hope that I can second the crown prince to lead a hundred cavalry, please allow your highness."

The prince was seconded to lead a hundred cavalrymen on the right. When Li Xian heard this, his expression changed.

There are six commanders in the East Palace: the prince's left and right guards, the prince's left and right siyu commanders, the prince's left and right Qingdao commanders, and the various guards each lead the army from three to five.

The local military government has about a thousand people each. When the critical moment comes, the prince can mobilize at least tens of thousands of people.

These people took turns to take turns in the crown prince's palace. Although the prince could not get close to him, these people had already been marked by the crown prince.

These people must strictly abide by the rules in their daily lives. If they make the slightest mistake, they will immediately be suspected of being rebellious.

Now when Li Xuan said to transfer troops, Li Xian immediately became nervous.

Looking at Li Xuan's solemn eyes, Li Xian's somewhat flustered expression quickly calmed down, and he cupped his hands and said, "What's the use of Uncle Wang's deployment of troops?"

"Except." After Li Xuan finished speaking, she leaned closer and said in a soft voice: "I have already reported to the saint, and the saint has given permission. After today's palace examination is over, your highness can report back to the saint. I will wait for your highness outside the palace."

"It turns out that Uncle Wang has already requested the order." Li Xian immediately looked relaxed, but then he frowned and asked, "Then why the eunuch did not pass the order on this matter."

"Your Highness will ask His Majesty to know when the time comes." Li Xuan cupped his hands, then turned and left.

Li Xian's expression became serious, he is not stupid, Li Xuan said so, it is obvious that something involved the internal servant.

Li Xian shuddered inexplicably, he hadn't forgotten that Li Xuan was currently investigating the Tubo case by order, but if the internal servant was found in the end, what would be the consequences.

Li Xian had the urge to go back to the East Palace immediately, but the Hall of Luncai was not completely over yet, so he couldn't leave yet.

Soon, all the test papers have been divided into upper and lower piles, the upper ones are the first and second piles, and the lower ones are the top three and the first.

Li Xian went to Zichen Palace with all the ministers, and waited until the emperor and queen made a decision together.

……

Holding a bamboo umbrella in her hand, Li Xuan walked slowly in the drizzle.

Ahead, the adjutants of various ministries have already left the Danfeng Gate, only Li Xuan is still walking leisurely.

Now, although he can't do anything about the mastermind behind the scenes, he can force him through the crown prince and the emperor.

As for destroying the evidence, Li Xuan couldn't help shaking his head in his heart. He didn't even find out who the other party was, how could he let the other party destroy the evidence.

And cautious people like them will never leave any evidence behind their actions.

Even when Li Xuan appeared in this matter, they had already become vigilant.

It's just right now, to startle the snake.

Anyway, it is not him who is staring at all this now, but the emperor and the prince, so he dare not show his flaws easily.

Act more and more cautiously, but for many things, caution alone is not enough...

While thinking about it, Li Xuan had already walked to Danfeng's door.

At this moment, a burst of hurried footsteps sounded behind him, and he followed closely.

Li Xuan subconsciously turned her head, and saw a young palace servant rushing quickly in the drizzle.

The servant shouted to Li Xuan out of breath: "King of Nanchang, Your Majesty has summoned you."

Li Xuan was taken aback for a moment, but immediately cupped his hands and said, "My minister Li Xuan obeys the order."

Although he didn't know the exact reason why he called him back, but he knew in his heart that something must have happened.

At that time, Emperor Taizong was in the court hall, looking at the hall full of new scholars, he said proudly: "All the talents in the world are in my pocket."

The imperial examination has always been a means for the imperial court to promote poor families and suppress the influence of noble families on the court.

Although most of the clans above the court are still from the aristocratic clan, the power of the poor clan is also growing day by day.

By balancing the contradictions between the two, the emperor had great control over the court. Especially after Empress Wu, the number of disciples from poor families increased year by year.

But the aristocratic family still has a way to fight back within the rules, that is, the top picks over the years are basically taken over by the aristocratic family's children.

Some are truly talented and some are slightly weaker, but by all means, they can all achieve the top spot.

It is a custom in the imperial examinations of the Tang Dynasty that whoever is the number one scholar in a certain subject will be named after him at this moment.

For example, in the second year of Shangyuan, Zheng Yi was the number one scholar. Therefore, in the second year of Shangyuan, he was named Zheng Yibang.

Now in the third year of Shangyuan, things have quietly changed.

The head of the examination selected by the Ministry of Civil Affairs was no longer a child of aristocratic families, but Cheng Xingmou from Shaanzhou who came from a poor family.

This kind of thing is extremely rare in the entire imperial examination history of the Tang Dynasty.

From the very beginning when Li Xuan knew the result, she knew that this matter would cause big trouble.

That's why he was so surprised when he knew that four of Wuyue's children had been on the imperial list.

But fortunately, Zhuge Minghui and Lu Lou both have real talents and learning. Although Xu An and Sun Xian are slightly lacking in talent, it is a fluke to be on the imperial list, especially the bottom ones.

In this way, even if he did not do well in the imperial examination, it cannot be said that he cheated for personal gain.

During this period of time, Li Xuan was busy investigating the Tibetan spy case, and he didn't care much about the imperial examination.

After the result came out, he immediately knew in his heart that someone had blocked those cold arrows that were shot at him for him.

Now, the real storm is coming.

The general examination cannot be changed. Everything has been settled by the Ministry of Officials Kao Gonglang and a group of officials.

Each examiner in the palace examination, as well as the prime ministers and ministers, all have their own right to recommend candidates for the number one scholar.

People's hearts are provoked a little, and the result is naturally completely different from the test.

……

Li Xuan walked into the Zichen Palace with a respectful expression, his eyes quickly passed over the ministers standing on both sides and the ministers, and finally glanced at the imperial case in front of him, then bowed his head and cupped his hands and said: "Chen Nanchang Wang Li Xuan, I pay my respects to Your Majesty." , Queen of Heaven, Prince."

Although it was just a quick glance, Li Xuan had already seen clearly that on the top of the imperial case, there was a stack of seven exam papers in the upper left corner, which was the list of the top two exams, and the remaining three exam papers, One copy is placed in the upper right corner, and two copies are placed in front of Li Zhi.

Obviously, No.3 has been decided, and the rest is the first or second place, the first place and the second place.

The prime ministers and other ministers were calm in writing, but judging by the emperor's indecision, one could tell how difficult this matter was.

Li Zhi pressed his eyebrows slightly, raised his head and looked at Li Xuan: "The King of Nanchang is Pingshen."

Slightly adjusting his sitting posture, Li Zhi continued: "I heard that you have had contact with Cheng Xingmou, Xu Qie, and Zhuge Minghui. I would also like to hear your evaluation of them."

Li Xuan was startled, and cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, today's imperial examination is for the ministers, the examiners, and Your Majesty to decide. I dare not speak falsely."

Li Zhi waved his hands carelessly and said: "It doesn't matter, you can say whatever you want. I'm just asking casually. I've already asked the prince, the queen, and other people about their affairs, including the people in Zhongshushe. , I want to hear your opinion now."

Hearing what Li Zhi said, Li Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

His eyes quickly passed over the faces of the prime ministers, the six ministers, and the relevant examiners on both sides.

These people have different positions. Li Xuan doesn't know what they think in their hearts, nor does he know how they come to their conclusions. But regarding the current matter, whether and how to speak, Li Xuan must be cautious and not pay attention. , may offend countless.

Li Xuan glanced at the two test papers placed on the imperial desk, thought for a moment, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I don't know what the dispute is that makes your Majesty unable to make a conclusion, but the matter of the number one scholar must still be based on the imperial examination papers. As a conclusion, all other things, whether it is human relationships or conduct, are matters for the future."

Since the scientific examination is a written test, then everything is determined by the written test results, and there is no need to mix other things.

Especially this time it still involves the matter of Tubo.

Li Xuan's words suddenly made all the ministers feel solemn.

Li Zhi nodded and said, "Go on."

(End of this chapter)