Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 213 Spreading beans and forming an army
Two months passed in a flash.

The refreshing Jiangnan has red cherries and green banana leaves.

Over the past two months, Zhang Yunxiu has been accompanying his beloved in traveling around Songjiang Prefecture, while also keeping a close eye on the first minor official selection examination in Songjiang Prefecture.

Because the official positions offered were all minor ones, these students looked down on them.

There are only two months left before the exam, and only about a thousand people have signed up. You know, there are more than three hundred positions to be recruited this time.

The application-to-admission ratio is three to one.

As long as you go there and answer your questions well, you can basically get a job.

Seeing that the exam he organized received no response, Zhang Yunxiu was in a bad mood. Early that morning, he hurriedly ate breakfast and then summoned Huating County Magistrate Wei Ming in the study.

The two of them sat down with the etiquette of host and guest.

Wei Ming looked respectful, his butt just touching the edge of the bench, ready to stand up and answer at any time. He had studied hard for more than 20 years, but he had never passed the imperial examination. This guy, on the other hand, was selected as a Hanlin.

As soon as he left the academy, he was directly promoted to the emperor's tutor.

How dare he neglect it?

Just sitting here, he felt tremendous pressure.

Just as he was daydreaming, Zhang Yunxiu took the lead in opening the conversation: "County Magistrate Wei, I have been in Huating for some time. This place is filled with the fragrance of books. Even a five-year-old boy can recognize a few words. It is truly worthy of being called a land of plenty."

"What the tutor said is true." Wei Ming stood up with a wry smile. He did not brag about himself, but talked about the reason for the exam, "It is because the people here are too wealthy, and these students are also very ambitious.

So for students from other places, this is a good thing, but for them, it may not be a good thing. "

Zhang Yunxiu also knew the ins and outs of this.

However, he did not expect that some scholars were so poor that they would rather engage in business than be petty officials. Aren't scholars supposed to be the most "noble" and look down on businessmen who are full of money?
The emperor's edict also said that if a minor official is registered in the Ministry of Personnel, he or she will be a formal official who eats the state's food.

Still no one came.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu frowning, Wei Qing blinked and suggested, "Mr. Zhang, how about this? Send someone to Shandong to make a few announcements. Most of the students who came this time are from Shandong."

You won’t know unless you ask, and you’ll be shocked when you do.

At least more than half of the students who came to take the exam this time were from Shandong. They seemed to have a special yearning for being an official and having a job with the government.

A mark engraved in blood.

Zhang Yunxiu slapped his forehead when he heard the voice.

In later generations, he was overwhelmed by the Shandong people's obsession with the "iron rice bowl". He did not expect that Shandong was still like this in the Ming Dynasty hundreds of years ago.

If that were the case, it would be much easier.

After thinking it over, Zhang Yunxiu stood up and told Wei Ming, "Well, go and call those Shandong students to the Huating County Office and tell them that I have something great to tell them."

"Yes."

The days are long in summer, and it is already the evening hour and the sky is just beginning to dark.

At this moment, hundreds of students gathered in front of the Huating County Government Office. In front of them, a temporary high platform was built, and Zhang Yunxiu and County Magistrate Wei Ming stood on it together.

There were a dozen or so officials guarding the stage.

These students looked at each other and whispered to each other, extremely curious about what would happen next.

Since Zhang Yunxiu said it was a good thing, it must be a good thing.

Is it possible that if I do well in the exam, I can directly become an official of a high rank?
That was simply a godsend, and it was worth it for them to come all the way here from Shandong.

Looking at the excitement and restlessness in the audience, Wei Ming felt a little embarrassed. He took a few steps forward and waved his hand to signal everyone to be quiet: "Ahem. Quiet, quiet, everyone, be quiet!" Soon, the audience quieted down.

Wei Ming nodded, turned sideways and gave Zhang Yunxiu a flattering smile, while extending his hand to make a "please" gesture. Zhang Yunxiu quickly stepped forward, facing the gazes of the crowd, and scanned these students.

Seeing that most of them were dressed in ordinary clothes, I thought they were students from ordinary families.

I suddenly felt relieved.

Clearing his throat, Zhang Yunxiu looked at the students and said, "You all came from Shandong. Songjiang Prefecture is not like Shandong. Everything is expensive. You came here two months earlier. I'm afraid you are short of money."

As soon as these words were spoken, the students below blushed and lowered their heads.

Zhang Yunxiu was very proud and continued, "However, you don't have to worry. There are still two months before the exam. This exam is very simple. With your talents, you will definitely pass it."

"I have a job that can make money here. Do you want to do it?"

"What errand?" a brave man asked.

"Good question."

Zhang Yunxiu gave the man an approving look and said, "You also know that Songjiang Prefecture is now under the direct jurisdiction of the emperor. The selection of minor officials was directly ordered by the emperor to carry out this major event."

"Now, there are only so few people. Isn't this a disgrace to the emperor?"

The people below were confused.

The fewer people there are, the better it is for them.

Taking advantage of the break, Zhang Yunxiu said something good: "Now, I'll let you bring your travel expenses for a month. Go back and find more people. For every student you find, I'll give you one silver dollar. For two students, I'll give you two."

"More work, more pay."

"One dollar for each?" A ragged student swallowed.

"Yes, I'll give you one yuan each." Zhang Yunxiu looked at the man and smiled and replied, then suddenly threatened him coldly, "However, your identity must be verified. If I find out that you are just posing as fakes, don't blame me for turning my back on you."

When Zhang Yunxiu confirmed it, there was a commotion in the audience.

During this time, some people would occasionally say, "One is one silver dollar, ten is ten dollars, so if there are a hundred, wouldn't that be a hundred silver dollars? That's all they give you in a month."

"You're a fool. Do you really think it's that easy?" His companion glared at him and cursed.

"I think this is something that can be done. Anyway, we are just trying to pass the exam. If we fail, we can still recruit a few people to make money."

"Then what are you waiting for? The sooner you leave, the better."

"."

A thousand arhats have a thousand mouths, and they say a lot of random things.

After an hour, the scene finally quieted down.

By this time it was completely dark. Wei Ming ordered people to light the lights, and with the help of the lights, the students who were willing to go formed a long queue.

After signing and sealing one by one, they set off on their return journey.

Looking at this scene, Zhang Yunxiu walked down the platform and breathed a sigh of relief.

Wei Ming followed closely behind him and said, "Mr. Zhang, you have learned from Han Xin's method of turning beans into soldiers. This selection of minor officials will surely set a good example for Songjiang Prefecture and even the southeastern provinces."

"I hope so." Zhang Yunxiu glanced at the back of the student walking away and nodded slightly.

(End of this chapter)