A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 208 Entering the Second Round

"I lost my mind for a moment."

Of course Song Qi would not say what he was thinking.

"If you're suffering from summer heatstroke from exhaustion, that's not good. You should just rest aside for a while."

Yan Shu patted his subordinate Song Qi on the shoulder, then asked him to sit in his seat, and he also went down to inspect the area.

Yan Shu, standing on the high platform, had already seen everyone in the examination room. Most of the candidates were thinking.

Song Xuan's sudden action had already been seen by Yan Shu.

Now I saw that he had finished writing and was checking for typos and preparing to copy it, so I went down to take a look.

At this time, Song Xuan was slowly copying the test paper.

Yan Shu took a quick glance and saw that Song Xuan's poetry had improved a lot.

He felt relieved and continued patrolling.

Then Yan Shu discovered that several students who were good friends with Song Xuan all wrote very quickly. He was a little surprised for a moment.

Could it be that Song Xuan guessed the topic?

After all, there are always candidates who try to guess the questions in every exam, and there are also some who are lucky enough to guess the questions correctly.

Yan Shu didn't think that the questions he asked could be easily guessed!

That only means that they have done this kind of questions before when practicing, so there is no need to think about it again and again!
Yan Shu strolled around the examination room with his hands behind his back. He was very satisfied with the anxious and worried look on most people's faces.

Only in this way can a small enough number of people be selected from more than ten thousand people to enter the next round.

Compared to the last time when Song Xuan went home to rest because he didn't get enough rest, this time he sat obediently in the examination room and didn't try to be the first to stand out.

It was not until the end of the exam that Song Xuan indicated that he wanted to hand in his paper and walked to the door of the examination room first.

At this time, a group of people had gathered at the entrance of the examination room.

"Twelfth brother, how did you do on the exam?"

Song Hao finished answering the paper early, but he was reserved and didn't think about handing it in early.

As a result, when he saw Song Xuan coming, he naturally asked.

Everyone looked over.

Song Xuan's fame made many candidates recognize his face.

What's more, he even called out in public the person who would pass the exam and become the top scorer!

"generally."

Song Xuan waved his hand casually:

"After all, Mr. Yan's questions are always difficult."

"Yeah."

After Song Xuan said this, many students agreed with him.

“I don’t know if I can make it to the second round.”

"Yeah, I have the same concerns!"

"After this time, come back to take the exam two days later. The passing results will be announced half a day in advance."

Song Hao listened to Song Xuan's general answer, but he didn't think that Song Xuan did not do well in the exam.

He has always been very humble.

If I say it’s average, doesn’t that mean I did very well in the exam?

Thinking of this, Song Hao raised his eyebrows slightly.

It seems that there shouldn't be any problem in passing the first round and entering the second round.

That's it.

If Song Xuan didn't even pass the first round, Song Hao would still be extremely disappointed!

After all, Song Xuan announced so loudly that he would compete for the top prize in Yingtian Prefecture, so he shouldn't be completely without any strength at all.

Song Hao would rather compete in the provincial examination in the future, as he has the support of the top scholar's notes, while Song Xuan has nothing.

Only then will he understand the benefits of having someone to help him!

But Zhang Fangping on the side raised the corner of his mouth, and he was a little excited for a moment.

Because he had actually done this type of question more than once under the guidance of his twelfth brother.

Anyway, there are only so many topics to cover in poetry and prose.

But there are still most people who can't write it.

Even if you get the question, you may not be able to write it out smoothly.

"Twelfth brother."

Zhang Fangping raised the corners of his mouth and couldn't help wanting to share his joy.

But Song Xuan stopped him: "Let's talk about it after we get outside. There are too many people here."

"Ok."

Zhang Fangping's mentality was even more unstable. He was so happy at this moment that he felt like he had eaten bee poop and couldn't hold it in at all.

As soon as the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall opened, a large crowd of people rushed out.

Song Xuan moved among the crowd.

Zhen Guannan hurriedly shouted: "Young Master Song is coming out, Young Master Song is coming out."

Then many ruffians came forward and congratulated loudly.

It seemed as if Song Xuan had already won the top prize.

This scene naturally made many scholars stay away from them.

"Master Song, can you get first place this time?"

"What do you mean by first? That's called Jieyuan. How ignorant!"

"Yes, yes, it's Jieyuan, Jieyuan!"

"Yes, the brothers are all looking forward to it."

Song Xuan laughed a few times: "I will do my best, the best I can."

"Master Song, this time I'm trying to buy you to win the Li Yuan again, but they don't believe it!"

Zhen Guannan followed him flatteringly: "Young Master Song must win the title of Jieyuan, and let those people watch carefully."

"Hey, I won't stop you from buying some three-star lottery tickets at my bookstore, but if you go to a black gambling house and place bets and get rigged, I can't protect you!"

Zhen Guannan immediately waved his hand:
"That can't be possible. Everyone in Song City knows that I'm Young Master Song's disciple!"

Whether it is Lu Zhishen or Zheng the Butcher, they are all disciples of General Xiaozhong.

Everyone was envious.

Ever since Zhen Guannan was taught a lesson by Song Xuan and thrown into prison, he has become rich.

Not only did he marry Gu Tongpan's concubine, but he also gave birth to a big fat boy for him.

He suddenly transformed from a poor man to a "superior person"!
Which scoundrel wouldn’t be envious?
In addition, after listening to Song Xuan's advice, he didn't have much money left, so he bought a house and land to avoid being blackmailed by his former gangster accomplices.

Now that he is doing business and his life is on the right track, he naturally has to stick close to Song Xuan.

Song Xuan didn't care. Having Zhen Guannan here was like buying a horse's bones for a huge sum of money. As long as he followed him, there would be hope for the future.

Especially since the thousand gold coins were not paid by Song Xuan.

Zhang Fangping was used to it. He never thought that he was superior to others and could talk to anyone.

As for the other scholars, they were very shocked that Song Xuan was surrounded by a group of ruffians and did not refuse to talk to them!
Doesn’t this damage our status as scholars?

In the Song Dynasty, anyone who was a scholar was considered superior to others.

When you pass the imperial examination and become an official, your position will be much higher.

Song Xuan walked slowly, and responded to some people who came over to talk to him.

In the end, during his exam time, you can see if he is in a good mood. If he is, take the opportunity to make some requests.

After all, the manure collection work in the entire Songcheng is divided into areas.

When collecting manure can bring profits, some people naturally want to get a bigger share.

This is inevitable!
Song Xuan returned to the bookstore and leaned back in the recliner, feeling refreshed.

"Twelfth brother, how did you answer?"

"Very good." Song Xuan said leisurely:
"If I can answer the other three subjects better, the title of Jieyuan will really come to me again."

Zhang Fangping nodded. He was well aware of his twelfth brother's talent in poetry and prose, and he had practiced Xikun style a lot, so writing those things was a piece of cake for him.

If he thinks it's easy, then Brother Twelve will definitely be easy to catch!
"Twelve Lang."

Wang Tai ran directly into the study and shouted:
"I just spent a long time looking for you at the entrance to the Imperial Examination Hall, but I couldn't see you. Why did you come out so late this time?"

After Wang Tai saw the question, he exclaimed in his heart, "It's too simple."

After he finished writing quickly, he thought he would wait for Song Xuan at the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall to leave the examination room together.

But he had come out a long time ago and never saw Song Xuan come out.

During this period, Wang Tai always wondered if Song Xuan had asked too many and too complicated questions, and he himself couldn't remember them all?

After a while, I met other people and learned that Song Xuan had escaped during the last wave of release.

Wang Tai leaned against the pillar and took a few deep breaths. "I answered the questions quite well, but you might not be able to keep your title."

"Hahaha."

Song Xuan leaned back on the recliner and waved his hand:

"As long as we all do well in the exams, it's all fine. All our hard work these days has not been in vain."

"Just wait for the results!"

Then Bao Zheng and others came to Song Xuan's house and told him that they had answered the questions well.

Everyone was full of confidence and even started talking about competing with Song Xuan for one or two top prizes in Yingtian Prefecture.

After arguing for a while, everyone dispersed.

Because once this question was asked, they had no worries about entering the second round and taking the full imperial examination.

As long as it is an exam, candidates will have both worries and joys.

But the examiners were not so happy because they had to endure a tough marking process.

There was no turn for copying at this time. After announcing the names of the people early on, Yan Shu began to assign them to review and make judgments.

"Time is tight and the task is heavy."

Yan Shu also had a mountain of test papers in front of him:

"Everyone, I won't say much, just review it directly."

Oil lamps and candles were constantly lit.

Everyone who was marking the papers was reviewing them against the clock.

As long as we work a little harder in the first half of the night, we can be released earlier tomorrow.

In short, it is extremely convenient to judge these papers according to the Xikun style.

Yan Shu would criticize the students as A, B, C, D, and E after looking at them, and the worst ones would be X. If they didn't even master the basics of Xikun style, what was the point of taking the exam?

There are many participants, but few outstanding candidates.

Yan Shu could tell the pros and cons of one thing with just a few glances.

This process is similar to the one used to grade Chinese language essays in the college entrance examination.

When Yan Shu saw Song Xuan's unique "Song style" handwriting, he stopped for a while and read Song Xuan's poems and essays carefully.

Compared with the last time, although Song Xuan's Red Cliff Fu was extremely beautiful, it did not completely conform to the Xikun style.

This time, Song Xuan's writing was both relevant to the topic and in line with the Xikun style.

It looks like it's finally been honed.

Yan Shu then wrote an "A" grade on Song Xuan's test paper and turned to the next one.

If nothing unexpected happens to Song Xuan this time, he will definitely be able to get the top spot in Yingtian Prefecture.

When he comes to express his gratitude, I will announce the fact that I deliberately dismissed him that year, take out the "Red Cliff Fu", and help him become famous.

After entering Tokyo, perhaps I can make some name for myself again.

Because Su Shun brought his two sons to Beijing for the examination, he took his famous works to visit Ouyang Xiu. After being praised by Ouyang Xiu, a famous person at that time, he immediately became famous, and officials and scholars competed to spread his articles.

The next year, Su Shi and Su Zhe passed the exam, which made the three Su brothers famous.

This basic method of cultivating reputation requires someone who is influential in the literary world to promote it for you or even endorse it.

Only then will others know about you, the person who has failed the imperial examinations many times.

Yan Shu thought about it and felt that Song Xuan probably didn't understand this kind of thing, so he would give him some advice when the time came.

The topic of the test is sure to arouse discussion among the public.

It is indeed a hot topic.

After some publicity, the gambling houses took the opportunity to issue odds.

It’s still a bet that anyone can get the position of Jieyuan.

Compared with the last payout ratio, Song Xuan's payout ratio this time has increased significantly.

Song Xuan wrote books, ran a shop, and cleaned up the scoundrels in Songcheng who were involved in the feces business.

One thing after another, all irrelevant to one's job.

Coupled with this time's test, the difficulty increases.

There are also students who have passed the Fajie exam.

Even Song Xuan's two brothers have a lower payout ratio than him.

Gambling houses are naturally unwilling to do business that will lose money.

Because of Song Xuan, Captain Ding Zhe and the members of the Fire Squad placed bets on Song Xuan becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination, hoping to gain publicity while losing money.

In the Song Dynasty.

Gambling is a very common thing!
Ding Zhe glanced at Yao Yunfan, the Yuhou of the Submarine Fire Team: "Why are you following me to buy?"

"What do you mean I should buy it with you?"

Yao Yunfan then curled his lips and said:

"I bought the top spot in his high school ranking for Twelve Lang's sake. Who else would be like you?"

"Hey, I'm not?"

Ding Zhe snorted and left with his note.

The people in the gambling house laughed even more when they saw this.

For people with high odds like this, the more you buy, the better, because it is really not easy to pass the exam and become the top scorer.

"Look."

Wang Gui took the note issued by the gambling house:

"Brother, I spent a thousand coins to buy you the title of Jieyuan in high school!"

Song Xuan glanced at the note issued by the gambling house that made a fortune every day and clicked his tongue twice:

"Eight to one, you've made a fortune, but you're so reluctant to spend even a small amount of money!"

"what?"

Wang Gui had heard from people on the street that the reason why Song Xuan had such high odds was because it was difficult for him to make the list, and he might not even be able to enter the second round.

"I will definitely win the first place in the imperial examination this time!"

After hearing Song Xuan's words, Wang Gui could no longer sit still:
"Brother, don't miss out on this free money!"

"Tomorrow, go buy with Tao Hong. Earn more money. Don't always buy alone. Buy in batches. I guarantee they'll feel guilty about what they've bought."

"Good good."

Wang Gui felt that he was a god to be able to take money out of the gambling house!

"Brother, are you really sure?"

"I've never done anything I wasn't sure of."

Song Xuan was still reviewing the Analects in his hand:

"Since I still can't understand Yuan this time, it must be Yan Shu who is deliberately suppressing me."

"That can't be."

Wang Gui felt that what Song Xuan said made no sense.

He found that Yan Shu was very optimistic about Song Xuan. How could he suppress him in such a matter of future?

There is no possibility at all!
After a large amount of money was used to purchase the receipt of Song Xuan's first place in the imperial examination, the gambling house owner was naturally a little frightened.

Although there are always many gamblers who buy small probabilities, he still feels nervous when he buys big.

After all, the idea of ​​a gambling house is to make big money, not lose money!
So he asked his men to lower the odds of Song Xuan winning the first place in the imperial examination to three to one.

On the way to see the list, Song Xuan heard Wang Gui go over to see the operation of the gambling house.

“The odds are down, but there is still experience.”

Song Xuan didn't care, since the odds were already marked on the note.

"Just withdraw the money when the time comes. If he dares to default on his debt, I'll make sure he can't continue doing this!"

"okay."

Wang Gui quickly said:

"Now all the money I saved to get married has come out."

His family is not rich, otherwise how could he go out and perform to earn some hard-earned money?
With Song Xuan, food and accommodation are provided, and the price of a bodyguard is also paid.

I have nothing to do on weekdays, so I can practice martial arts and hone my skills.

You can even go to the streets and fight with the hooligans to practice your skills.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that it’s like a god’s life.

"Tokyo is expensive, so I'd better save some money."

Song Xuan understood that Wang Gui wanted to return to Tokyo to serve as a member of the imperial guard and then gain wealth and honor through foreign wars.

After all, the Song Dynasty was willing to pay officials, both civil and military.

And it is not just an official position. You will be directly appointed as a "Jisu Guan" (a salary-earning official) and will be paid a salary, but you do not have to do the work of this official position.

The phenomenon of redundant officials is extremely serious.

"Yes."

Wang Gui lived a "poor life" in Tokyo.

Fortunately, his family supported him in joining the imperial guards, so he did not lack food and was able to learn from a good master.

The main reason was that the master also felt that he was in good health and was a good material for being a "thief soldier".

If there is a war in the future, perhaps I can become a high-ranking official directly.

Only by fighting can a civil official, a military general, or even a soldier have the opportunity to climb up.

Otherwise, given the scale of the imperial examination, there wouldn't even be many positions for officials, so how could there be so many positions for military generals?
Just as the two were talking, everyone exclaimed, the results are finally announced!

As long as your name is on the list, you can participate in the second round tomorrow.

Among the crowd of people.

Naturally, many students wanted to visit first.

As the chief examiner, Yan Shu's face was full of fatigue at this time.

He did not immediately ask the yamen runners to post the list.

In addition to the students who want to see if they have made the list, there are also countless people who want to watch the fun.

Yan Shu naturally asked the yamen runners and soldiers to go out and start to disperse the crowd to avoid a stampede caused by excitement.

Although poetry and prose are the main subjects, we still need to look at the results of the other three subjects.

Yan Shu held a wooden loudspeaker and asked everyone to be quiet. He also asked the soldiers to go down and, like the eunuchs in the imperial palace, convey their voices forward in rows so that everyone could hear them clearly.

Yan Shu held the red list in his hand and began to read out the names.

There is no ranking here, the numbers are read out according to the previous exam numbers.

"Xuchang No. 13, Song Xuan."

"Xuchang No. 13, Song Xuan."

……

"Twelve Brother, is this your exam room number?"

Wang Gui asked excitedly. He stared at Song Xuan and became even more excited, fearing that he would say no.

"That's right, and there's no one in Yingtian Prefecture with the same name as mine."

Song Xuan nodded and responded amid the noisy crowd.

"Hahaha."

"Brother Twelve has entered the second round. Who said he couldn't pass the exam?"

"Hahaha, that's right." Zhang Fangping agreed a bit, but he wanted to hear his own name more.

Wang Gui was smiling widely.

Whether Song Xuan passed the imperial examination and became the top scorer, or made money from the gambling house, it was a great thing for him.

It can be said to be a double happiness.

"congratulations."

The people around him listened to Wang Gui's words and congratulated him. In addition to hoping to share in his good fortune, they also wanted to hear their own names called.

Those whose names have been called are naturally very happy.

Those whose examination room numbers have passed but whose names have not been called out obviously did not pass the exam.

Even after being comforted, Zhang Fangping was still quite nervous and clung to Song Xuan's sleeve tightly.

(End of this chapter)