The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 216 Is it too much to be the No. [-] pick?

March seventeen.

On the second day of marking the palace examination and the day before the announcement of the palace examination, the intensive marking work was still in progress, while Zhu Youtang was in Qianqing Palace, checking a batch of binoculars brought in by someone sent by Xiao Jing.

"Your Majesty, this batch of binoculars has already been built, and they are of high quality. In addition, Mr. Zhang also equipped them with several new binoculars, which can be adjusted in various ways, so that the binoculars can be seen more clearly."

As Xiao Jing said, he handed the binoculars to Zhu Youtang.

Zhu Youtang looked at it in front of his eyes, then asked about the adjustment method, and asked in surprise, "How is this done?"

Xiao Jingdao: "It is said that there are gears inside, which drive the expansion and contraction of the caliber, etc. The slaves don't quite understand."

For those new things, it would be good if Xiao Jing could remember a name, let alone figure out the principle, he was also thinking, if I can figure it out, then what's the matter with Zhang Bingkuan?
"Very good, very clear."

Zhu Youtang held it in his hand and looked out of the hall with a smile on his face.

Xiao Jing said again: "Your Majesty, Mr. Zhang also gave some things as a gift..."

"Bonus?"

"Yes." Xiao Jing said, "This kind of soap is called soap, similar to acacia, it can be used for bathing, washing hands, cleansing face, etc., and it is specially used for His Majesty to try."

Zhu Youtang glanced at Dai Yi who was next to him. Dai Yi was very sensible and quickly asked someone to bring a basin of water, and then Dai Yi personally took it and presented it to Zhu Youtang.

Zhu Youtang picked up the soap and roughly washed it according to what Xiao Jing said.

"Well, it feels like it can clean the dirt on your hands better, and it has a refreshing floral fragrance." After using it, Zhu Youtang was naturally very satisfied.

Xiao Jing smiled and said: "Your Majesty, Mr. Zhang said that this is just a trial build, and for the time being, we can only bring Shi Fang in as a tribute."

"Go and send some recipes to the Empress Dowager, let her old man try this good thing first."

Without even thinking about it, Zhu Youtang first said that he would give it to the Queen Mother Zhou.

Dai Yi and Xiao Jing were also surprised by this.

I thought to myself, Your Majesty, you used to have good things, didn't you give them to the queen, prince and princess first?
Zhu Youtang said: "The Empress Dowager likes to be clean most of the time, and those who practice Buddhism all pay attention to purifying the body in order to purify the mind, Bing Kuan really has a heart."

Only then did the eunuchs understand the emperor's intentions, but no matter how they heard it, it seemed that they were trying to explain why they should give it to the Queen Mother first.

And they are also very awkward to hear... Speaking of "purification" in front of eunuchs, don't you know that this word has other meanings, Your Majesty?
"Is this considered bribery?" Zhu Youtang suddenly smiled.

"Ah?" Xiao Jing looked puzzled, and then smiled, "Your Majesty, isn't this a kind intention from Mr. Zhang? How could it be a bribe?"

Zhu Youtang continued to smile, looked in the direction of the Wenhua Palace, and said: "Now the palace examination is being graded, and the results should be available this afternoon. He gave a gift in advance, so I can take care of him? Okay! I appreciate it." .”

"I have never had so many expectations for the results of the palace examination like this time. It seems that someone close to me is also taking the palace examination, but I can control his fate. I feel very complicated."

And you said it wasn't a bribe?

Dai Yi comforted: "Your Majesty, with Mr. Zhang's talent and learning, he will definitely not fall behind."

Zhu Youtang said: "But if his papers are not among those ten papers, it will be difficult for me to promote him as the number one scholar or the top of the tripod. In this way, Xiao Jing, you go and keep an eye on it, and spread the news as soon as there is news." return."

"Yes."

Xiao Jing took the order.

I'm also thinking about it.

I'm an eunuch of the East Factory, I don't have much knowledge, and I'm not qualified to mark papers. What can I do when I go to the Wenhua Palace?

Will those palace examination paper readers give me face?

……

……

It is of no use for Xiao Jing to go to the Wenhua Palace.

The paper reading is also coming to an end. Although the papers are in a state of blurred names, in fact, some candidates' handwriting can still be recognized by the examiner.

just like……

Can Xie Qian not recognize his brother Xie Di's handwriting?Wang Shouren went to Li Dongyang to learn from him several times, and many people knew his characters...

Of course, the fonts are all similar, and some of them are not completely sure, especially when there are so many papers selected, these paper readers are all arrogant, and probably no one will cheat for personal gain in the palace exam.

Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian, as the highest-ranking examiners in the palace examination, are basically a paper, and they are the last to review it.

Based on their age, after two days, they have to read [-] articles, each of which is at least [-] words long, without even punctuation marks, just like reading [-] chapters of a novel in two days. It is really impossible to read through, just to see whether the basic arguments are tenable, then look at the calligraphy, and then look at the conception of it, etc... Some people will follow the crowd.

Others think it is good, there are many circles on it, and I circle it.

There are many triangles above, so I draw triangles.

Laziness is naturally lazy. After all, this is not a test. The examiner needs to make detailed comments on the article. The marking time is said to be three days. In fact, the day of the test is not counted. It is necessary to submit the examination results to the emperor before dark on the 17th afternoon, and ask the emperor to count the rankings of the ten papers. Many times, I really don't care to read them carefully.

"Eunuch Xiao, it's almost the same. Fourteen examiners have finished reading more than 200 papers, and the rest are only a few people who haven't read it. It won't delay things. You can rest assured first."

The eunuch in the study room of the Lijian Supervisor came over to explain the situation to Xiao Jing, speaking softly, for fear of disturbing the examination papers inside.

Xiao Jing didn't shy away so much, and said with a smile: "Our family is not in a hurry to leave. After the examination papers are over, I will go to present the papers with a few senior scholars."

……

……

The marking of the palace examination was finally completed when the sun was already setting.

In addition to Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian who are going to submit the last ten papers, there are also three people, Wang Jia, Li Jie, and Jiao Fang, who are the Bachelor of Attendance and the Bachelor of Attendance of the Imperial Academy, will go. As usual, I will go, but Xu Qiong, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, is not the examiner of the examination papers this time, mainly because of the rumors that there was a question in the Ministry of Rites examination, Xu Qiong is avoiding suspicion.

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

The six ministers who submitted the examination papers stood in the hall, and the ten examination papers were also presented to the emperor.

Zhu Youtang didn't talk nonsense, he went up to see if Zhang Zhou's words appeared in it, and vaguely recognized one of them, and then felt that one of them was very similar to Zhang Zhou's words, and after reading a few sentences, it seemed that the style of discussion with Zhang Zhou was the same. It's very similar, with a vague tone of criticizing the current situation, and then looking at the scores of the fourteen examiners...

Zhu Youtang frowned slightly.

Thirteen circles, that is, thirteen first-class, but there is a slash, that is, third-class.

Looking at the ten test papers, among the 140 scores, there are only two slashes, and there are no scores below the slashes. The remaining 130 eight marks are all circles or triangles, which is equivalent to first-class and second-class.

Liu Jian said: "Your Majesty, these ten papers are carefully selected, and the papers are considered excellent by the readers, and they are specially presented to His Majesty for reading."

Zhu Youtang seemed a little displeased because of the slashed third-class score, and asked, "What standard is used to determine their merits and then submit them to me?"

Liu Jian was very surprised why the emperor asked this.

Liu Jian said: "The first class is the first, and the one with the most first class will be the first; if the first class is equal, then the number of the second class will be considered, and the one with the highest second class will be the first; and so on."

The general meaning is to see who has more laps and who has fewer laps first, and the one with the most laps wins.

For those with the same number of circles, look at the number of triangles, then the slashes, and then the vertical lines.

Liu Jian said again: "In this palace examination, there are no examination papers of the [-]th and [-]st grades. Those who get the [-]th and [-]st grades are one, those who get the [-]th and [-]st grades are fourteen, and those who get the [-]th and [-]st grades are fourteen."

Zhu Youtang felt a little better after hearing this.

In other words, although Zhang Zhou won a third prize, he was the only one who got thirteen circles. According to the scoring standard, that Zhang Zhou was the champion.

But the emperor looked at the four papers with twelve circles, and the remaining two scores were all second-class triangles.

Zhu Youtang was also thinking.

Who is this?
You won't follow the crowd?If you insist on drawing a line when others circle you, it will appear that you are capable?Or is it that you were the first to mark the papers and felt that it was not very good, and the thirteen examiners after that made things right in time?

Because the palace examination papers were not marked, the emperor did not know who was so ignorant.

……

……

The emperor had to select ten papers.

Except for the top five, the remaining five papers are relatively easy to determine. After the order is settled, someone will open the seal of the examination paper, announce the names, and then fill in the list.

gold list.

With five papers left, only Zhang Zhou with thirteen circles was left, and four papers belonged to unknown people with twelve circles.

This matter concerns the top two in the second class and the three in the first class.

Although the rankings are not much different, but for such a palace examination that does not select Shu Jishi, the difference between the middle and the top of the tripod can be said to be huge.

"No.4 in the second class, Tang Yin."

"No.3 in the second class, Wang Shouren."

When Dai Yi read out the names of No.7 and No.6, the emperor paid more or less attention.

He had heard the names of Tang Yin and Wang Shouren before.

Zhu Youtang also admires Wang Hua very much, but there is one bad thing, that is, Wang Hua is a traditional civil servant, and he is too close to Liu Jian and Li Dongyang, so it can be said that they are homogeneous. The fourth person in the cabinet obviously doesn't want to choose Wang Hua.

Originally, Wang Shouren ranked No. 7 in the second class of Jinshi this year, and Lin Ting ranked No. 6 in the second class.

The top five in the orthodox history are: Sun Xu, Luo Qinzhong, Lu Dong, Zhang Wenyuan, and Hu Wenbi.

As a result, due to the appearance of Zhang Zhou, there was a butterfly effect. Lin Ting did not enter the top ten, Wang Shouren was also promoted to No. 3 in the second class, and Tang Yin squeezed to No. 4 in the second class.

Five servings left.

Zhu Youtang didn't want to hide it anymore, he picked up Zhang Zhou's copy and said: "I have read these ten articles, and I think this one is the most satisfying to me, and he is also the leader among the fourteen examiners, so I will Take it as Yijia No.1."

While speaking, Dai Yi was about to take it.

Li Jie came out and said, "Your Majesty, although there are thirteen first-class papers in this volume, there is still one third-class one. The arguments in the article may be slightly biased. Please think again, Your Majesty."

It means that there is still room for discussion in promoting this paper as the number one scholar.

Zhu Youtang became angry when he heard it.

I was thinking who was so ignorant and gave Zhang Zhou's paper a third grade, but you, Li Jie, came out and admitted it yourself, right?
Originally, I wanted to promote you as a Hanlin scholar, but it seems that you can step aside!You don't even have the insight to recognize talents, yet you still want me to treat you like a dish?

"I also don't understand why there is a third class for such a good article? It's just because the arguments are biased? To rule the country with ritual and music, we should first enrich the people first. If you start from the water, you will carry the boat, and the water will overturn the boat." Mencius' great righteousness, why is this biased?"

Zhu Youtang's complexion was not good.

Are you reasonable?Thirteen people thought it was good, and only one who insisted on giving it a third class could only say that this person’s level was not good enough, but he actually wanted me to think that this article was not good enough?
If this article is not good, it should be thirteen fifth-class forks, not thirteen circles.

Li Jie was startled.

What does this mean, Your Majesty?Just a reminder, although this article got thirteen circles, it seems that some examiners still think that he is not particularly outstanding. Let me come out and give some pointers. Why does His Majesty have such a big reaction?

Besides... the third class was not judged by me. I clearly remember that I marked this paper as a circle, and I really appreciate this article.

After being taught a lesson by the emperor, Li Jie returned to his original position very wisely.

"Gentlemen, do you have any other opinions?" Zhu Youtang asked coldly.

Jiao Fang and Li Jie didn't seem to know much about this, and they didn't know why the emperor insisted on it so much, but the remaining four people, including the three members of the cabinet and Wang Jia, probably could solve the mystery even if they didn't reveal the answer now. Solve the riddle.

Is that even a question?
Isn't it because the emperor insisted on using this paper as the champion paper because it belonged to Zhang Zhou?

In fact, among the four people present, three of them didn't understand for a moment what was wrong with this article, because three of them couldn't recognize Zhang Zhou's handwriting, but one of them was an exception.

If the remaining three people also know, maybe the scoring of this paper will still be changed.

……

……

"It's settled."

Zhu Youtang is not talking nonsense.

Whoever I choose to be the champion is my business, not to mention that Zhang Zhou won thirteen prizes, even if he is only the worst of the ten, if I want to promote him as the champion, you have nothing to do.

Who told you not to select him in the previous selection?
Since he has entered the top ten, he is basically guaranteed to be the No. [-] pick.

"No.2 in the second class, Liu Long."

"The No.1 biography of the second class, Fengxi."

With Zhang Zhou present, the butterfly effect has changed again. The second place and third place in this test did not make it to the first place.

"No.3 in Yijia, Sun Xu."

"Yijia No.2, Lun Wenxu."

"No.1 in Yijia, Zhang Zhou."

When Dai Yi finished reading this, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He didn't bother to care about who was the second and who was the third, or who was the second best. As long as Zhang Zhouzhong was the number one, that's what the emperor wanted to see. It is also the result expected by their eunuchs.

Zhu Youtang pretended to be surprised and said: "Is Bing Kuan the number one scholar? That's the third place."

This time even Li Jie and Jiao Fang who didn't understand it suddenly realized.

No wonder.

His Majesty almost turned his face just now, probably because he was annoyed by the third-class evaluation on Zhang Zhou's paper.

Li Jie suddenly had an ominous premonition in his heart. His Majesty was almost furious with me just now, so he wouldn't think...that third class is my evaluation, right?

Score it.

Isn't it a third class?If someone intends to suppress Zhang Zhou, shouldn't he be given a fifth class?At that time, it was estimated that he would not even be able to choose these ten papers?

But if there are thirteen first-class and one fifth-class... that would be too deliberate.

No matter how he thought about it, Li Jie felt as if he had been tricked.

But who was tricked by him, but he couldn't figure it out.

Dai Yi asked for instructions: "Your Majesty, now that the examination papers for the Palace Examination are over, are you going to publish a list tomorrow?"

"Mm." Zhu Youtang said, "Tomorrow, at the time of the day, I will go to the Palace of Fengtian, and all the ministers of the court, Chinese and military will go, and there will be a ceremony to pass on the people."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

……

……

The marking of the palace examination ended without any surprise.

After the six reviewers came out of the Qianqing Palace, Xiao Jing led the way to the gate of the palace, because it was already late, and even the three members of the cabinet didn't need to go back to the cabinet to take turns, they should go back to rest.

When they left the palace gate, Xiao Jing also went back.

Liu Jian deliberately asked Xie Qian to leave first, and he left Li Dongyang behind.

"Binzhi, Zhang Bingkuan's third class, is it you who assigned it?" Liu Jian had a keen mind.

From Liu Jian's point of view, judging from that article alone, no one should give Zhang Wednesday a class. Even if someone thinks it's biased, giving him a second class would be the best thing to do. Since it's a third class, it must be suppressed on purpose.

And Li Dongyang was not the last person to read Zhang Zhou's paper. Probably Li Dongyang wanted to use a third class to remind subsequent reviewers to give a second or third class to lower the score of this paper.

Li Dongyang didn't answer, just stared at Liu Jian.

It seems to be asking, how do you see it?

Liu Jian said: "I was the last to read this paper. When I saw a third class, I thought there might be something wrong with the article. After reading it, I seemed to understand that this is Zhang Bingkuan's paper."

Li Dongyang smiled wryly and sighed, "I really can't hide anything from you."

"His vigor is fully reflected in the article. He can win the first prize in the examination, but he must also have his extraordinary knowledge and insight. His words are not empty and artificial. Maybe he really has the ability to calm the people and rule the world Ambition, and what he did before did not violate this original intention. The only reason to give him a third class is...someone wants to suppress this person's spirit."

Liu Jian's ability is not empty.

When he found that an exam-taking article could be domineering, he could also observe people from the article, and analyzed that this person might be Zhang Zhou.

Li Dongyang said: "Shouldn't his spirit be suppressed?"

Liu Jian shook his head: "At that time, it was between the second and first class, and I hesitated for a long time. If Zhang Bingkuan hadn't done so many things before, it would be all right for me to press him down and let him fall to the first or second place in the second class. But Have you ever thought that no matter how much we suppress him, His Majesty's trust in him will not diminish? On the contrary, His Majesty will think that we are deliberately blaming him?"

Li Dongyang looked heavy.

Now that I think about it, it's a good thing that Liu Jian didn't beat Zhang Zhou to No.5.

If this is the case, I am afraid that the emperor will be angry on the spot just now.

Liu Jian said: "For him to be an official in the future, what's the difference between being the number one scholar or the top two? Instead, it's better to let him enter the museum, and let him take care of him under my advice. Binzhi, it should be Let go of your prejudices!"

(End of this chapter)