Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 628: The Great Leader is Flourishing

The palace city of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Qianyang Palace.

Before Emperor Jiazhao reviewed the palace examination papers, the sealing officer removed the seals on the papers and showed them to the three chief examiners.

When Chen Mo got the examination paper, even though the name on the paper was still covered, both he and Wang Shilun recognized Jia Cong's paper from the calligraphy.

It’s just that Chen Mo is worldly-wise, alert and slick, while Wang Shilun is even more cunning and shrewd, and nothing can go wrong.

They all knew that the imperial examination was related to the selection of talents for the country and the future of countless people, and that there were hidden dangers in every corner. Naturally, they would not leave any room for criticism in front of Xu Liangxiong.

Chen Mo was the top scorer in the spring imperial examination in the second year of Yong'an. If Jia Cong, whose papers he reviewed, had been selected as the top scorer in the fifteenth year of Jiazhao, it would undoubtedly become a story praised by the literati.

Emperor Jia Zhao had just expressed great admiration for Jia Cong's policy paper. Chen Mo was a tactful and experienced person, and he would not miss such an opportunity both publicly and privately. He took the opportunity to request Emperor Jia Zhao to appoint Jia Cong as the top scholar.

However, Emperor Jiazhao did not make a direct statement on his request, but instead asked Wang Shilun for advice.

Chen Mo was an old gourmet who had been in officialdom for half his life. He could tell that the emperor had other ideas. Although he hesitated in his heart, he was not impatient.

Wang Shilun thought for a moment and replied, "Your Majesty, Jia Cong is a man of outstanding talent. He has won the first place in several imperial examinations and now he has won the second place. He is indeed a man of unrivalled talent.

However, the imperial examination was the only way for common people to advance in their careers. It attracted the attention of scholars all over the world, and students from all over the world were determined to strive for progress.

The imperial examination was not only used to select talented people for the country, but also to win the hearts of scholars all over the world and to demonstrate the emperor's power and grace that bless the world.

In my humble opinion, the latter is more important than the former.

Your Majesty governs the country and rules the land. No matter what happens under the imperial decree, there is no trivial matter. It is better to focus on the long-term situation than to be stuck in the moment.

When Jia Cong was still an ordinary person, the emperor recognized his talent, sent him to the ancestral temple, entrusted him with the emperor's grace, and posthumously conferred a title on his mother, thus giving him the foundation to establish himself in an aristocratic family.

He fought fiercely in Liaodong and pacified the Jurchens, making great contributions. The emperor generously rewarded him by making him a hereditary earl. Such a special favor had never been seen before in the Jiazhao reign.

Jia Cong's current achievements are certainly due to his extraordinary talents and strategies, but also because of the emperor's selection and cultivation of him, which enabled him, a descendant of a noble family, to avoid becoming a pearl in the dust.

Now he holds two titles and holds the fifth-rank official position. After the spring examination, he was on the same level as the nobles and commoners, and finally achieved fame. There is nothing wrong with his study of classics and the pursuit of learning.

He won the honor of being the top scorer in the Spring Examination under the anonymous grading, all because of his outstanding talent and the broad and beautiful writing style. Others envied him but no one gossiped about him.

Now that the papers of the palace examination have been opened and graded, His Majesty has selected him based on his talent and named him the top scorer, which is also an upright and strict move.

However, scholars all over the world are obsessed with fame and fortune, and it is difficult for them to have the broad-minded mind of the emperor. Most of them make unwarranted speculations, thinking that the emperor favors young ministers and that all the honors and glory will be bestowed on them.

They even slandered Jia Cong, a noble official, rich and glorious, yet he wanted to snatch the opportunity to advance from common students, which was against the way of the saints and sages to forgive and be virtuous..."

Wang Shilun spoke eloquently. As a cabinet minister, he was a man of great talent and strategy. Although his words were euphemistic, they were well-founded and difficult to refute.

Emperor Jiazhao was listening attentively behind the throne, his face showing no joy or anger, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Everyone in the hall could hear that Wang Shilun's words meant that he did not agree with selecting Jia Cong as the top scholar.

The Minister of Rites Chen Mo, who was standing nearby, was the one who proposed selecting Jia Cong as the top scholar.

After listening to Wang Shilun's words, he just listened with his eyes half closed, appearing a bit dull and old, and did not show any displeasure on his face because of Wang Shilun's rebuttal.

However, Xu Liangxiong couldn't help but feel secretly happy after hearing what Wang Shilun said, because since Jia Cong could not select the top scholar, the six candidates he was grading would have a better chance of getting the first place.

Wang Shilun continued, "Jia Cong is now of high status. I believe that he took the imperial examination because he was determined to study since he was young and was taught by Emperor Wenzong Jing'an, so he worked hard to take the examination.

Now that he has won the honor of being the top scorer in the imperial examination, he has fulfilled his lifelong ambition of studying, which is enough to repay the kindness of Mr. Jing'an's teachings. The reputation of having won the first place in the imperial examination twice is no less than that of having won the first place in the imperial examination.

I think Jia Cong will not be too obsessed with becoming the top scholar in this exam.

Even if His Majesty fulfills his kindness and tolerance, it will be a good story."

……

Emperor Jia Zhao said, "Lord Wang, your words are of general consideration and make sense. What do you think, Lord Chen?"

Chen Mo bowed and said, "I recommend Jia Cong as the top scholar only because of his talent, and I have no other intention. Your Majesty is thoughtful and thoughtful. If you have a wise decision, I will agree with it."

When Emperor Jiazhao saw that Chen Mo was so easy to talk to, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, but it was not surprising.

Chen Mo has survived two dynasties and still managed to stand firm. This is because he is thoughtful, opinionated, tactful, and doesn't cause trouble...

Emperor Jia Zhao glanced at Xu Liangxiong, who was standing by his side with a somewhat anxious look on his face, and asked, "Does Lord Xu have anything to say?"

Xu Liangxiong's expression slightly lifted, and he said: "Lord Wang's words are quite pertinent and mature, and I deeply agree with your advice.

Lord Chen's statement that Jia Cong is the top scorer in this year's imperial examination and has unrivaled talent is not without reason.

I think Jia Cong is worthy of being ranked first in the imperial examination, but as Lord Wang said, he should not be selected as the number one scholar.

Jia Cong is not only extremely talented, but also well-known to the world for his unrivaled demeanor and handsomeness, comparable to Pan An. In my humble opinion, he can be selected as the third place winner, and they complement each other, which can be a good story. "

As soon as Xu Liangxiong finished speaking, Emperor Jiazhao's expression moved slightly. Chen Mo, who had been listening with his eyes closed just now, suddenly opened his old eyes, and there seemed to be a sharp flash in his eyes.

He said: "Master Xu, what you said is not right. Jia Cong is the champion of this year's imperial examination. His talent is beyond his peers. He is also outstanding in military strategy and has made great contributions to the country.

This kind of young minister is more about talent than appearance. He has the potential to win the first place in the world, but he was only selected as the third place because of his appearance. This is against the solemnity of the imperial examination ceremony!"

……

When Xu Liangxiong heard what Chen Mo said, his face became a little embarrassed, and he felt a little angry in his heart.

At the same time, he was also a little confused. Chen Mo, this old man, was always smooth, so why did he suddenly become so sharp in his words?

Xu Liangxiong suggested that Jia Cong be selected as the third place in the imperial examination, and he naturally had his own calculations.

He knew that Jia Cong was the top scorer in the imperial examination and his essays in the palace examination were outstanding, even the current emperor had approved of him, so he would definitely rank among the top.

But there were only three people in the first class, so he recommended Jia Cong as the third place because of his good looks. In this way, even if Jia Cong was ranked in the first class, he would still be the lowest.

As for the remaining first and second place winners, their honors and positions are incomparable to that of the third place winner. Only if this situation is formed and the six examiners under his name have the greatest chance of winning the first place.

Unexpectedly, Chen Mo, who looked old and languid, suddenly said such sonorous words, which caught Xu Liangxiong off guard.

Wang Shilun remained calm at this time. When Emperor Jiazhao heard the argument between the two, he frowned slightly and looked thoughtful, but he was not in a hurry to express his opinion.

He said, "I just glanced over the papers. In addition to Jia Cong, there are several other candidates who have written brilliant essays and are qualified to be ranked first in the imperial examination. I wonder if the three of you have any candidates in mind?"

Wang Shilun said: "Among the papers selected by me, Qingzhou Gongshi Zhang Wenxu ranked fourth in the joint examination, and his essays in the palace examination were among the best.

Chen Qirui, a tribute scholar from Yuezhou, ranked seventh in the imperial examination and was a top-ranked candidate in the palace examination. These two can be considered top candidates.”

Chen Mo said: "Among the six papers I reviewed, Lin Zhaohe, a Gongshi from Hangzhou Prefecture, is second only to Jia Cong in talent and rank third in the imperial examination, so he can be considered a top candidate."

Xu Liangxiong said quickly: "Among the papers I reviewed, Dai Yuanjie, a tribute student from Shanxi, ranked thirteenth in the imperial examination, and his essays in the palace examination were outstanding, and he could be considered a top candidate."

Emperor Jia Zhao said: "The title of first place in the spring examination is the focus of attention of all the scholars and people in the world. This is a big matter and it is necessary to weigh and consider it.

When all the examination papers are reviewed at sunset tomorrow, you will enter Qianyang Palace to discuss and decide on the first and second place candidates. "

……

Emperor Jia Zhao watched the three examiners walk out of the hall and said to Guo Lin, who was standing beside him, "The documents of the students in the Ministry of Rites are all superficial and difficult to understand.

You must gather your men and investigate the origins of the four tribute scholars, Zhang Wenxu, Chen Qirui, Lin Zhaohe, and Dai Yuanjie. I want them to know clearly before noon tomorrow.

The title of first-class is like a national treasure, and must be treated with great care..."

Emperor Jiazhao asked again, "Has the firearms workshop made any progress in the construction of breech-loading rifles?"

Guo Lin replied: "Your Majesty, Qian Huai sent me a message yesterday that Jia Cong has now finished mourning and is in charge of the research and development of muskets in the workshop every day as long as there is no external affairs.

With Jia Cong leading the project, the construction has made great progress. The firing pin of the breech-loading rifle, which was not strong enough, has been modified several times and will be completed within a month. "

After listening to Guo Lin's words, Emperor Jia Zhao paced in the palace with his hands behind his back. When he reached the entrance of the palace, it was noon. The sun was rising in the sky, shining brightly, and the brilliant sunlight was pouring down on the vast palace, which looked extremely magnificent and beautiful, making him hesitate.

……

On May 12, the 15th year of Jiazhao, in the Earl’s Mansion, Jia Cong’s Courtyard.

Just after the hour of Wei, in the deep courtyard of the wealthy family's inner house, it was the quietest time of the day.

The entire courtyard was quiet, with no one walking around. Only in Jia Cong's study, there was a graceful figure walking back and forth.

At this time, the only person who would appear in Jia Cong's study would usually be Yinglian.

Yinglian was in charge of Jia Cong's study. Originally, Jia Cong was busy with the imperial examinations, and that was also Yinglian's busiest time.

Not only did she study with Jia Cong every day, but when Jia Cong went to Liu's house in Luocang Mountain to attend classes, he only took her out.

Although she often had no free time at that time, following Jia Cong around every day made Yinglian's life more interesting.

Now that Jia Cong has finished his imperial examinations and has been going to the yamen every day after mourning, his time at home has suddenly become much less.

The time spent in the study was far less than usual, which made Yinglian feel more lonely and bored.

At this moment, she looked a little bored, holding a feather duster and dusting back and forth in front of the bookshelf.

In fact, the bookshelf was black and shiny, without any dust at all...

The afternoon sun shone in through the window lattice, casting a shadow on the bookshelf and illuminating Yinglian's slender and graceful body, diffracting a harmonious light, revealing a beauty that staggered her heart.

Yinglian was not dressed like the maids in red and green coats. She wore a pink long gown with a right-front lapel and a cross collar, which was embroidered with exquisite magnolia branches. She also wore a red gold necklace around her neck, which flashed a bright yellow glow.

She had a slightly slanted bun on her head with two pale pink silk flowers in it, and small braids on her temples. Her pretty face was as delicate as snow, and she had a childish and lovely temperament.

She gestured with the feather duster for a few times, then threw it aside, picked up a random book, and sat on Jia Cong's desk to read it.

Just when I was bored to the point of being sleepy, I suddenly heard Juan'er's voice: "Third Master, are you leaving the yamen so early today?"

……

Yinglian was delighted when she heard this, and quickly walked out of the study. She saw Jia Cong walking into the yard with a smile on his face, and he seemed to be in a good mood.

She asked, "Master, is there nothing to do in the workshop today? Why are you leaving the yamen and returning home so early?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Things have been going smoothly these past few days, and they will be completed by the end of the month. I have already issued the rules, and the people below will handle them on their own. I don't need to be on duty all the time.

I came back early today and need to write a memorial, which may be useful in the next few days."

Seeing that the courtyard was quiet, Jia Cong asked, "Why are you the only one at home? Why aren't Zhishao, Qingwen, Lingguan and the others here?"

Yinglian said: "Sister Wu'er is naturally in the West Mansion. In the morning, there was news from the Muni Courtyard that Sister Zhishao's master was unwell, so she and Miss Xing went to the Muni Courtyard to visit him.

Qingwen was called by Xiuju to embroider a pattern, and Lingguan was called by Miss Lin to talk, and she also brought Douguan with her.

Jia Cong said with a smile: "Why don't you go out for a walk? It's boring to be alone."

Yinglian smiled and said, "I'm too lazy to go out. Besides, if everyone goes out, there will always be someone watching over this room. It will be quiet for me in the study."

The two of them entered the study. Yinglian was about to grind ink when she suddenly saw a black spot on the base of Jia Cong's right hand.

He quickly grabbed Jia Cong's hand and took a closer look, saying, "Master, why is there a black spot on your hand? Is it a burn?"

Jia Cong laughed and said, "It was a burn, but it was just gunpowder powder stuck to it. I washed it with water, but I was in a hurry and didn't clean it cleanly."

……

Since the palace examination, Jia Cong went to the workshop every day as usual. During these days, great progress had been made in improving the smelting of the firing pin of the breech-loading rifle.

The blacksmith improved the smelting method according to Jia Cong's suggestion, and the strength of the newly forged firing pin continued to increase.

At present, it can support 26 consecutive rounds without the firing pin breaking, and it is only one step away from supporting 30 consecutive rounds as Jia Cong requires.

Today, Jia Cong personally took part in the test firing of sample guns in the workshop and fired more than ten rounds in a row before stopping. He really satisfied his craving.

Liu Shizhen, deputy supervisor of the Firearms Department, Qian Huai, the manager, and others who were present saw him using the newly developed breech-loading rifle with such skill.

It looked like a breech-loading rifle that had been used for a long time, which really surprised them all. This new type of musket had clearly just been developed as a prototype.

They had never seen Jia Cong use it before, so how did he manage to shoot so fluently?

The few people who were used to seeing all kinds of magical things of Jia Cong could only explain it by saying that Jia Cong was a genius with innate knowledge.

Moreover, once the breech-loading rifle is manufactured to meet Jia Cong's requirements, this extremely sharp military weapon will surely cause a huge stir in the army of the Great Zhou.

How dazzling this young Shangguan will be at that time, and this strange thing in front of him will not be a big deal...

……

Yinglian came out of the study and quickly brought back a basin of clean water and a piece of Xinchun perfume soap.

Jia Cong scrubbed with soap for a while, but the gunpowder powder had invaded his skin and was quite stubborn, so it could not be washed off for a while.

Yinglian took out her handkerchief, wet it, and kept wiping Jia Cong's hand, which ended up making her own slender fingers turn black.

She wrinkled her nose slightly and looked at her fingers, her face a little bitter.

Jia Cong smiled and grabbed her little hand, applied some perfumed soap, and began to scrub it carefully.

The afternoon sunlight blends in, making the water in the copper basin shimmer and sway, making people feel intoxicated.

Yinglian's fingers were slender, delicate, beautiful, soft and gentle. Jia Cong held them in his palms and rubbed them gently, and his heart felt warm. He couldn't let go of them...

Jia Cong washed carefully. Yinglian's pretty face turned pink, her heart trembled, and her palms felt itchy, but she was reluctant to pull them back and let Jia Cong fiddle with them.

There was the sound of dripping water in the study. Yinglian could not resist the itch in her palms at last and let out a silver bell-like laugh that echoed in the quiet courtyard.

……

May 12, at sunset, in the East Pavilion of Wenhua Hall in the Da Zhou Palace.

The eighteen examiners were busy for half the night and got up at dawn to continue marking and sorting the palace examination papers.

After two days of hard work, except for the top three in the first class and the top fifteen in the second class, the review and ranking of the remaining palace examination papers were finally completed at sunset on the 12th.

The three chief examiners received the ranking list of the papers given by their fellow examiners. They asked a few detailed questions to the sixteenth to fiftyth candidates in the second class, glanced at the others, and signed for them.

Because the top three in the first class and the top fifty in the second class are all qualified to pass the imperial examination and enter the Hanlin Academy.

For those ranked outside the top fifty, there is no actual difference in position except for reputation. Under normal circumstances, the chief examiner will rank them according to the same examiner's ranking, or make minor adjustments.

As soon as the three chief examiners received the review and rankings, they rushed to Qianyang Palace without stopping. One was to report the review list to Emperor Jiazhao, and the other was to finally discuss and decide on the top three places.

The eighteen fellow examiners were also released from palace restrictions and allowed to return home to rest, many of whom had to attend the morning court the next day.

Sun Shouzheng followed the other examiners and walked out of the Fengtian Gate with a tired body.

When he arrived at the Meridian Gate, he looked back at the towering palace behind him. He felt a sense of relief for no reason, and then a sense of openness arose in his heart.

He thought of the words of the old man in Xiao's bookstore, Wu Liang's proud words and deeds in the tribute team, and the mysterious smile on Xu Liangxiong's face...

I also thought of how he and his 17 fellow examiners worked late into the night marking papers, worrying deeply and exhausting all their energy for the future of the 300 candidates.

When he thought of these scenes, a surge of blood welled up in his heart, as if it could ignite him. A flush welled up on his face, and the fatigue from two days and one night of hard work seemed to be swept away.

The imperial examination is a matter of great importance to the country and the hope of scholars all over the world. How can we allow wicked people to trample on and tarnish it at will!
(End of this chapter)