Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 498

Meng Changqing confirmed the content of the notice again and said, "Stamp it and post it."

"I'll go post it!" Bafang took out the seal and ink and snatched the notice from Qi Renli.

Qi Renli pulled out a piece of paper from his sleeve and said, "Sir, this is the question I came up with for the essay test. Please take a look at it."

Meng Changqing looked at the questions on the paper. They were not difficult, but the content was very comprehensive, including calligraphy, ink interpretation, and arithmetic.

"Brother Qi, how many of these questions do you think I need to answer to pass?" Meng Changqing shook the paper, flattened it, and placed it on the table.

"You only got two or three questions wrong, so you can barely pass." Qi Renli said, "Although there are many questions, they are all simple. As long as you listen carefully to what the teacher says, you should be able to answer every question."

Meng Changqing stared at the paper on the table for a long time.

Qi Renli was worried, "Sir, is the question too simple?"

Meng Changqing shook his head, "Brother Qi, how many people in the county do you think can pass your test?"

This question really stunned Qi Renliwen.

He didn't pay much attention to the students' schoolwork, so naturally he didn't know how they were doing.

"How about I take it and ask Mr. Cai?" Qi Renli became unconfident.

"That's not necessary. Although I feel that we don't have enough manpower, I don't want to use people who don't know anything." Meng Changqing took the paper he was about to put away and said, "Let's give it a try. We can test how well the students have learned."

The test questions were set.

Qi Renli thought of the two adults just now, pulled out a stool and sat down, "My lord, you haven't told me yet, what bad news did you hear?"

"It's still about the new tax rate." Meng Changqing had greeted Qi Renli before.

"After a while, officials from the capital will come to check the taxation of each county. Our county's accounts are very simple. When you are free these days, help Cheng Guang find the account book. We will check it ourselves first. If there are any mistakes or omissions, we can find them in advance to avoid being found and troubled by the people above."

After hearing what Meng Changqing said, Qi Renli immediately understood why that adult looked so bad.

Where else can the accounts be as clean as those in Beishan County?

"I just happen to be free these few days." Qi Renli became worried again, "Should we put off the recruitment of yamen runners?"

"No need." Meng Changqing knew the efficiency of those people in the capital. At this juncture, since they had received the emperor's order, they had to set out after the New Year. The roads were difficult to travel in winter. If there were people in the team who could not endure the hardship, they would not reach Liangzhou until at least after the 15th.

"It just so happens that the city wall is taking a break during this period, so let's take advantage of these few days to get things done."

After the notice was posted, the yamen runners held gongs and notified each village.

Before long, a long line formed in the open space next to the yamen.

Bafang was maintaining order outside. "Don't be impatient, and don't push. This time we won't hire whoever comes the fastest. Look at what's written on the notice. You have to pass the exam and be a good person before you can be hired."

Someone in the team asked, "Master Ba, I heard the notice read out by the messenger. I will definitely fail the written test, but I have a lot of strength. What will the martial arts test be about?"

"What test? You've asked the right person!" Ba Fang said with a smile, "Master Ba, I am the person in charge of this martial arts test. First, I will test the endurance of your legs, then the strength of your hands, and also see if you are smart.

It's not easy to pass. Hey, those of you who are not in good physical condition, hurry up and line up for the written test, don't make it difficult for yourself."

After Bafang's conversation, indeed, many people left the line in front of him, but they all lined up in the line for the written test next door.

Cheng Guang was worried because there were more people taking the literary test than those taking the martial arts test.

How much money would it cost just to give each person in the government a piece of paper?

He was about to go to Meng Changqing to find a solution, but when he turned around, he saw Meng Changqing walking towards him, "Sir, there are too many people."

"Let me say a few words." Meng Changqing walked to the registration table and said loudly, "Everyone, please be quiet and listen to what I have to say."

Many people in the team were surprised and said, "It's Master Meng!" "Master Meng wants to speak, be quiet!"

When the crowd quieted down, Meng Changqing clasped his fists and said, "It's a new year again. I wish you all good health and everything goes well."

The people who were originally queuing up and anxiously signing up started to become polite after being interrupted by Meng Changqing, "Thank you, sir." "We also wish you good health." The people in the queue started to speak, saying auspicious words in a mess.

Back to the topic, Meng Changqing pointed to the notice on the wall and said, "As you can see, the government office is short of staff, and we need to select 20 people from among you to go to the county government office to help.

Some of you know that this is not the first time the yamen has recruited bailiffs, and it certainly won’t be the last.

The population of our county has increased significantly compared to before, and it would be unfair to continue to follow the first-come, first-served approach as before."

"Yes!"

"Your Excellency has a point."

"The people recruited by the government this time must pass the civil or military examination. The military examination is under the charge of the Eighth Direction, and it has its own rules. The civil examination naturally also has its own test questions.

But unlike the martial arts test, there are two rounds of testing, and you can only register after passing the first round.

You may not understand what I mean, let's try it with a few people and then you will know what I mean."

Meng Changqing sat down at the registration table and asked Cheng Guang to bring over the sand table that Mancang was playing with.

"Put it on the table." When the things arrived, Meng Changqing said to the first person in line, "I will test you on five words. If you write all five words correctly, I will register you."

After hearing this, the person standing first in line suddenly became nervous, and even in the middle of winter he felt his palms sweating.

He wiped it on himself before reaching for the stick on the table.

"Are you ready?" Meng Changqing saw him nod, then said, "Tax, how do you write the head tax?"

The man thought for a while while holding the thin wooden stick before writing on the sand table. He then scribbled and revised many times before he could barely write the words.

The first person wrote, and the news spread instantly to the others.

People in the queue were gesturing on their hands how to write the tax. Those who didn't know asked the people around them quickly. However, since everyone was a competitor, some were kind enough to tell them, while others refused to teach at all.

"How do you write the second word, yi, which means "service"? "

The person in front of me scratched his head and patted his forehead, thinking for a long time, but the more anxious he became, the more confused he became.

Meng Changqing waited for him for half a cup of tea before saying, "I still can't remember. I can only wait until next time."

The person in front had to put down the stick, and soon the second person in line took over.

He picked up a wooden stick and wrote the word "tax" on the sand table. Seeing Meng Changqing nod, he wrote the word "service".

Meng Changqing nodded again, but said: "I won't test you on these two words."

"what?"

"Write the four characters of pen, ink, paper and inkstone."

This person obviously knew more than the previous one, and quickly wrote the words on the sand table according to Meng Changqing's request.

Meng Changqing registered him, wrote him a number plate, and asked him to come to the county government office to take the exam in five days.

Five people passed by Meng Changqing, and only two of them successfully registered.

A lot of people dispersed behind the team.

For those who study carelessly, it is too difficult. They cannot pass the first round and cannot even register.