No war in the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 29 The Demonic Book Rises Again
Su Ze silently thought of going home and left the Peach Blossom Spring. He heard someone knocking at the door.

He put on his clothes and walked out of the house. After opening the gate, he saw Wang Anshi with a worried look on his face.

Su Ze was a little surprised. After the last gathering at Wang Anshi's house, the three of them agreed to concentrate on reviewing before the Ministry of Rites exam and meet again after the exam.

Why did Wang Anshi rush over here so early in the morning?

Wang Anshi said:
"Brother Su, haven't you heard?"

Su Ze asked doubtfully:
"What did you hear?"

Wang Anshi squeezed in, closed the door and said:
"There are rumors that Brother Su cheated in the exam. I heard that the censors are already keeping an eye on this matter! They want to impeach Song Tianzhang, the then-director of the Imperial College!"

Su Ze's heart skipped a beat. He had expected that the mastermind behind the scenes would not stop, but he did not expect them to come so quickly and so violently.

The predecessor was to pass the Imperial College examination and obtain the qualification to take the Ministry of Rites examination.

In Su Ze's memory, his predecessor did not cheat, but the test results of the Imperial College were very watered down.

The imperial examination system in the Song Dynasty was not as strict as that in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Scholars could take part in the provincial examinations in various states and obtain the qualification to take the Ministry of Rites examinations.

The provincial examination was very difficult, and Ouyang Xiu failed the first time he took it.

Another way is to study at the Imperial College in Bian Jing and then take the Imperial College's graduation examination. This way is much easier.

The Imperial College was originally the top official school in the early Song Dynasty. However, during the reigns of Taizu, Taizong, and Zhenzong, the children of powerful and wealthy were continuously sent to the Imperial College. In addition, the functions of the Imperial College itself became rigid, and many capable teachers left. As a result, the teaching level of the Imperial College gradually declined.

Today's Imperial College is a place where scholars from Bian Jing can qualify for the Ministry of Rites examination. As far as Su Ze can remember, he has only attended a few classes at the Imperial College.

The predecessor was to take advantage of the situation and obtain the qualification of the Imperial College student, and then successfully passed the Imperial College examination and obtained the qualification to participate in the Ministry of Rites examination.

Because of the poor teaching ability of the Imperial College, private academies and private schools are now prevalent in local areas. For example, the Yingtian Academy, the largest academy in Jinling, has a larger student population than the Imperial College. It hires famous teachers with high salaries to give lectures and has trained many Jinshi (imperial examination candidates).

This point was also criticized by court ministers. The Qingli New Party, including Fan Zhongyan, proposed to reform the Imperial College and revitalize official education.

Wang Anshi said anxiously:

"Attacking the Imperial College at this time affects countless students taking the exam. I don't know what these censors in the court are thinking!"

Then Wang Anshi looked at Su Ze and asked doubtfully:
"Brother Su, why aren't you worried at all?"

Su Ze smiled calmly and said:
"What's the point of worrying? If this isn't directed at me, then Su is honest and has never cheated on the Imperial College exams. What is there to worry about?"

"If it's directed at me, then even if I escape this, there are still other things."

Wang Anshi was also an extremely intelligent person. He immediately understood what Su Ze meant and asked:
"Brother Su suspects that this matter is related to the Demonic Book Case?"

Su Ze nodded.

How could it be such a coincidence that after the evil book case, the Imperial College case came next.

The Imperial College has a strict admission policy and a lenient graduation policy, which has become the unspoken rule of the imperial examination. Otherwise, how could so many children of powerful people pass the examination?

You should know that those who go to prison to study are basically the children of the powerful and wealthy.

This is the reason why there is so much resistance to reforming the Imperial College.

But at this time, the matter of the Imperial College was brought up. Obviously, someone felt that Su Ze was getting in the way of their business.

Wang Anshi said to Su Ze:

"Unwavering perseverance, Brother Su, is truly magnanimous!"

Su Ze asked:

"Where did Brother Jiefu get the news, and what are the details?"

Wang Anshi said:
"I heard it from Yang Zong."

Yang Zong?

Su Ze asked, "But is it Yang Zong who ranked first in this test?"

Wang Anshi nodded and said:
"It is this gentleman."

Su Ze said:

"That might not be groundless. Yang Zong's brother, Yang Cha, is the son-in-law of the current Privy Councilor, Lord Yan. Yang Cha is currently serving in the Censorate. Yang Zong must have gotten the news from his brother."

Wang Anshi said anxiously:

"What should I do?"

Su Ze became calmer and said to Wang Anshi:
"Please help me find out who is trying to kill Su Ze. If the Imperial College is found to be a corruption case, it will definitely implicate a wide range of people. How far will it go?"

Then Su Ze said apologetically:

"I'm really sorry to have troubled Brother Jiefu before the Ministry of Rites exam. If you can find it, that's great. If not, that's fine too."

Wang Anshi immediately patted his chest and said:

"I'm almost ready for the Ministry of Rites exam, so I don't mind spending a few days reviewing my studies. If a talented person like Brother Su can't take the exam because of these things, it would be a loss for the court!"

"Don't worry, Brother Su. I'm waiting for you and me to be called out together!"

Su Ze was indeed a little touched. Wang Anshi was indeed a very good friend. After seeing Wang Anshi off, Su Ze also followed him out.

Relying on his memory and asking passers-by along the way, Su Ze arrived in front of a big house.

After arriving at the gatehouse, the servant saw Su Ze wearing a shabby scholar's robe and said to him with a hint of arrogance:
"Go away, my Zhang Mansion doesn't hire an accountant!"

It turned out that this was Zhang Daocheng's mansion, and the doorman mistook Su Ze for a poor scholar looking for a job.

Su Ze did not get angry with the doorman, but took out a piece of paper, handed it to him and said:

"I'm not here to apply for a job. I want to see Mr. Zhang about something. Here's my writing paper."

When the doorman saw Su Ze's temperament, he didn't dare to act rashly.

Although the Zhang family was a new noble family, they only became royal merchants through their relationship with Zhang Xiuyuan.

There are many hidden talents in the city of Bianjing. Who knows if this poor scholar will know any powerful people?

The doorman put away his contempt and went into the inner room with Su Ze's paper.

As expected, after Zhang Daocheng saw Su Ze's paper, his expression changed again and again.

"What about the Confucian scholars?"

"Still in the concierge."

Zhang Daocheng paced back and forth, and first said, "Open the door and welcome the guests!"

As for how Su Ze escaped the disaster, the well-informed Zhang Daocheng naturally knew the whole story. He even knew that the government had written Su Ze's name on the screen of Chuigong Hall.

Zhang Daocheng knew very well that once Su Ze successfully passed the imperial examination, he would surely rise to great heights.

If you don't act quickly on a son-in-law like this, will you have to wait for the imperial examination results to be announced and someone else will catch you as your son-in-law?

But then he thought again, his daughter and Su Ze had no engagement. If he was so flattering, others would laugh at him, and Su Ze would look down on his daughter.

Zhang Daocheng then said to the doorman:
"Wait! Invite him in through the side door and be polite!"

The doorman secretly felt lucky that he had not offended the distinguished guest, but he also became curious about Su Ze's identity.

Who on earth could make the head of the family so anxious and worried?
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(End of this chapter)