Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 75: Time is a butcher's knife (Part )
Haiyue had sharp eyes and ears, and she could see the other person's appearance from a distance, but she didn't dare to recognize him for a while.

Could he be passing by?

When the other party came closer, he smiled shyly and bowed, saying, "Yan Shifan greets Brother Hai. I have long admired your talent and reputation. How fortunate to meet you today! I am a humble family and have nothing but a handwritten copy of 'Jinsi Lu'. I humbly accept it!"

His eyebrows were slanted down to his temples, his eyes were bright, his features weren't particularly handsome, but he was worthy of the description of red lips and white teeth, and coupled with his elegant and refined temperament...

"Huh? Aren't you supposed to be short, fat, and blind in one eye?"

Yan Shifan's appearance, as described by later generations, was that he had a big face and a thick neck, looked like Chef Fan, and was blind in one eye.

How could it be this gentle and refined young man with red lips and white teeth?

It is normal that he is not blind, after all, he may have been blinded later in life or suffered from some disease, but shouldn’t he look like a little fat boy?
But on second thought, since Yan Song could catch the eye of Jiajing, he must have been good-looking. His wife Ouyang was said to have contracted smallpox in her childhood and had pockmarks on her face, but this is a rumor. There is no record of it in official history. It is just a contrast created by marketing accounts in later generations who like to highlight Yan Song's affectionate expression.

Anyway, judging from his parents' genes, Yan Shifan is unlikely to be too ugly.

A fat body and a short, thick neck could also be another possibility.

Years are a killer knife.

Just like the young Leo and the Leo playing with water guns on the beach, they are completely different people.

Furthermore, Yan Shifan claimed to be from a humble family and had no possessions, so he hand-copied a Neo-Confucian classic as a gift, which made Haiyue a little uncomfortable. Of course, she still had to say something polite: "How dare I, how dare I, such a generous gift, how can I possibly accept it, Brother Yan, please!"

He bowed half-heartedly and accepted the other party's gift. Then they went into the house and sat down. Haiyue took out the prepared tea and snacks and began to chat.

Yan Shifan first showed concern for the two cases in Hainan, and then asked a few questions about the Annan delegation. It was obvious that they came well prepared. Finally, he showed concern for whether Haiyue had adapted to the weather and environment after arriving in the capital.

Throughout the entire process, he showed no arrogance of the only son of a third-rank official, and demonstrated extremely good upbringing.

If it were a student from a remote area who had just arrived in the capital, he would surely feel flattered at this moment.

Haiyue wanted to laugh.

You're so humble and polite, I'm not used to it...

Yan Shifan didn't know what the other person was thinking. He also felt that this student, who was about the same age as him, had a good appearance, outstanding temperament, and a calm demeanor. He had no sense of shame about coming from a remote place. He couldn't help but nod secretly: "No wonder Lu Bing valued him. He is really talented!"

After laying the groundwork, he got to the point: "Brother Hai, do you want to study at the Imperial College?"

"Of course!"

Hai Yue nodded: "The Imperial College is the highest institution of learning in the Ming Dynasty. After the reorganization of Yan Jijiu, it has changed its dilapidated state and is now brand new. There is no student in the world who doesn't want to come here!"

Yan Shifan smiled. As a junior chief priest, he was clearly proud of his father's reputation. He then sighed softly, "Brother Hai topped both exams. He's a brilliant talent from Qiongshan. He should have been admitted as a tribute student..."

Hai Yue continued calmly, "It's a pity that I offended Wang Tixue, so it's impossible for me to get a recommendation from the local authorities."

He ranked first in two exams and last in one. It was obvious that he had offended the examiner of the third exam. Yan Shifan admired him. As a scholar, he was so brave to go against the provincial governor!
The other party obviously also received a huge reward and was valued by Lu Bing. This man was an old minister of the current emperor's palace and was independent of the Jinyiwei system. How many people wanted to make friends with him but had no way to do so. With the favor of this man, once he became successful in the capital, what would a mere Guangdong Education Commissioner be?
Giving up small things for big things is worth it!

Yan Shifan was certain that this person had earned Lu Bing's attention due to his genuine talent and knowledge, and he immediately began to work hard. "Brother Hai, do you know that since my master's 'Quarterly and Annual Examinations' were implemented, unqualified students have been dismissed every month?"

"Oh?"

Hai Yue was a little surprised: "The capable ones stay, and the mediocre ones leave. If the Imperial College can implement the quarterly and annual examination system, it will truly benefit the world's talented people!"

This system is undoubtedly excellent, but it is not easy to implement.

For example, if he had accepted Wu Lin's recommendation and entered the Imperial College through Yan Song's path, then if he failed the exam, would he be eliminated or not? If he was eliminated, wouldn't that offend two high-ranking officials? If he wasn't eliminated, the system would become a mere formality, and other students would not accept it.

Therefore, during the four years that Yan Song served as the chief academic officer, he really implemented the "Quarterly and Annual Examinations Law", eliminated a group of unqualified students, and was able to handle various relationships without making enemies everywhere. Even Jiajing noticed this ability.

Yan Shifan smiled modestly, as if he couldn't handle the praise. A hint of shyness lingered on his cheeks, but he acted frankly, "The Quarterly and Annual Examinations are not a system of our dynasty. They existed as early as the Tang Dynasty's Imperial College. Examinations are held at regular intervals, with those who pass retained and those who fail eliminated. However, even with this system in place, it's incredibly difficult to truly enforce!"

"As the highest official institution of learning, the Imperial College is bound to have some unskilled people filling the ranks. Those who are simply trying to get by are fine, relying on their father's influence to gain experience and then becoming an official when they are old enough. But those who are recommended are more difficult to deal with. They form cliques and factions, which is full of unhealthy tendencies."

"The family's master will enforce the law with an iron fist and will not tolerate any leniency!"

"And if there are those who are eliminated, there must naturally be those who are admitted as replacements. When the headmaster was in power, the students who were admitted as replacements were also known for their talent. However, recently, the replacements have been selected from the nearest places..."

After hearing this, Haiyue finally understood.

It turns out he was waiting here.

Supplementary recording!

Yan Song did eliminate a group of the worst students, but he also admitted a lot of new students.

Just think about it, we are in the Internet age, and the admission information can be checked clearly. It is impossible for the Imperial College to announce the admission of additional students to all directions. One has to register in the college before taking the exam.

Those who know this news are not simple people.

On this point, Haiyue roughly understood how Yan Song eliminated the students and appeased all parties.

Changing the recommendation method not only rectifies the internal unhealthy practices, but also appears more fair and just to the outside world, leaving no room for criticism.

What a great method!

The key point is that Yan Shifan also put the blame on the current chief academic officer of the Imperial College. He did not believe that Yan Song had not benefited the scholars in the capital when he was in power.

Seeing Hai Yue's strange look, Yan Shifan thought he was happy about this opportunity, so he smiled and said, "Brother Hai, a new list of eliminated candidates will be released in five days. There will be about ten people on the list. Registration will be open on the same day. The registration limit is 100 people. Once the list is full, the exam will begin immediately, and the candidates will be admitted on the spot..."

"Thank you."

Haiyue said: "I will go to the gate of the Imperial College in advance and wait."

Yan Shifan asked with concern, "Brother Hai, you have two friends, right? You have a monthly quota, roughly ten people. With your talents and knowledge, you three will surely achieve your wish and enter the Imperial College!"

"Thank you for your kind words, Brother Yan." Hai Yue bowed.

Yan Shifan rolled his eyes and added, "But there is still a small obstacle..."

Hai Yue said, "I'd like to hear the details."

Yan Shifan sighed softly, "Guangdong and Guangxi are ultimately not as good as the Central Plains. The number of tribute recipients is extremely small. When my father-in-law was in office, he overcame all objections and increased the number of tribute recipients. But after Xu Jijiu took over, he changed the annual tribute back again!"

According to the system, the tribute students of the Imperial College are generally divided into annual tribute, selected tribute, deputy tribute, and outstanding tribute. It is quite complicated to explain in detail, but generally speaking, local education officials regularly select students from prefecture, state, and county schools based on their qualifications and academic performance. The likes and dislikes of the Imperial College's chief academic officer determine to a large extent the number of places in each place.

There is no doubt that there are slight differences in the attitudes of the two chief priests towards Lingnan students.

The current chief academic officer of the Imperial College is Xu Gao, a man in his sixties. He was a Jinshi in the 12th year of the Hongzhi reign. He also resisted the rebellious politics of Liu Jin's eunuch party and succeeded Yan Song more than a year ago.

As we all know, if the predecessor does too well, it will put great pressure on the current one. Not everyone has the magnanimity to follow the rules of Xiao Song. Xu Gao wanted to eliminate the influence left by Yan Song and establish his own prestige.

But whether in the Imperial College or in terms of reputation among the literati, he was far inferior to Yan Song. Naturally, there was some friction between the two.

Of course, Yan Shifan would not say that, but he deliberately picked out the annual tribute quota from Lingnan. Anyone born in that area would feel uncomfortable and inevitably nervous.

If the current chief academic really doesn't like Lingnan students, what if they pass the supplementary admission test but are still rejected?
Yan Shifan proposed a solution: "Fortunately, the person in charge of the supplementary examination is Assistant Professor Lin. He has always been fair. I will ask him for help..."

"That's not necessary!"

Haiyue shook her head and said firmly: "What I want is a fair chance to take the exam!"

He just wants fairness and is not willing to use connections or take backdoors.

But many times, only by using connections and opening back doors can we get basic fairness and justice.

A very helpless reality.

So Lu Bing was mobilized, and Lu Bing found Yan Shifan, but Yan Shifan's subsequent arrangements were a bit excessive.

This is how it works when you ask someone to do something. If they are unwilling to help, the task they are asking will be very difficult, so difficult that it cannot be done.

Even if they are willing to help, the task the other party is talking about will be very difficult, so difficult that they will have to use all their strength to accomplish it.

Only in this way can the favor be confirmed.

"A gentleman cultivates virtue, while a villain seeks profit. I was too hasty. Alas!"

Yan Shifan was inevitably disappointed, but a hint of apology appeared on his face. He sighed softly, revealing his concern about the current situation of the Imperial College, and then began to enthusiastically recount interesting stories in the capital.

……

"Brother Hai, please stay! Please stay!"

Half an hour later, Yan Shifan stopped Hai Yue from leaving the house. The polite smile on his face did not fade until they were out of the alley. He turned into a thoughtful expression: "He is indeed a talented person. If I could recruit him to my father's army before he gains power, he would be a great help in the future!"

Yan Shifan was born in his hometown in Jiangxi Province. When he was born, Yan Song returned to his hometown to mourn his father's death and lived in seclusion in Qianshan to study for ten years.

When he was three years old, he followed his father to the Hanlin Academy in Nanjing. At that time, Yan Song had obtained the fifth-rank position of Imperial Tutor by virtue of his ten years of cultivation. He was in charge of the affairs of the academy and had a high status, but he lived an extremely poor life.

Another ten years passed, until the fourth year of Jiajing, when Yan Shifan was thirteen years old, Yan Song finally got the key position of Jijiu of the Imperial College because of the praise of the literati.

This lasted for four years, during which time Yan Song finally emerged in the court and became the right vice minister of the Ministry of Rites, a third-rank official, and he, Yan Shifan, also became the son of a third-rank official.

But compared to other powerful and wealthy children who were arrogant and domineering, Yan Shifan was the most low-key one. His father had been humble and polite all his life, and he followed his father's example. His father lived a simple life, and so did he...

Well, it seems that things really can't get better. Apart from his parents, there are only a few servants at home, and no other concubines or maids. If his mother, Ouyang, had not come from a merchant family with considerable wealth, he could not even maintain the basic dignity of a third-rank official.

The Yan father and son were so honest that they naturally attracted the favor of the literati. However, everything has its pros and cons. If they did not make money lavishly, it would sometimes be inconvenient to do things.

Yan Shifan was very clear that his father had recently been trying to get closer to the eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department by compiling the "Veritable Records of Emperor Wuzong" and let them speak well of him in front of the emperor, but because he had no money to give to these greedy eunuchs, the effect was not good.

In this case, the most reliable means is undoubtedly human relations.

Among all human relationships, the relationship between teachers and students in the Imperial College is the most stable!
Yan Shifan walked to the entrance of the alley, turned back and glanced at the house from a distance, and made up his mind: "When he enters the Imperial College, I must find an opportunity to ask my father to accept this student. He will definitely be of great use in the future!"

……

"Duke Zhou feared rumors, and Wang Mang was humble before he usurped the throne. With such a mentality and preparation, it's no wonder he later rose to the highest position in the government!"

At the same time, Hai Yue stood at the door of her house, looking at Yan Shifan's departing back, and sighed silently in her heart.

I used to think that the father and son of the Yan family were able to emerge because they catered to the corrupt Jiajing without any bottom line and were willing to do anything immoral.

But in fact, there were many officials who wanted to follow the emperor without any bottom line. Why did Yan Song stand out in the end?

Old Deng was indeed talented, and his son was even more intelligent. The father and son worked together to make the Yan Party glorious for twenty years.

Unlike in the TV series, in history, when Yan Song really controlled the court, there was no such thing as the Yan Party and the Qingliu faction struggles. Factional struggles were a thing of the late Ming Dynasty. Factional struggles were when the two sides were evenly matched and each made its own moves. When the Yan Party was in power, they simply crushed the other ministers. They were so suppressed by them that they dared not even breathe.

"What a pity! With the talent and intelligence of this father and son, they could have become capable ministers, but in the end, they used their abilities to harm the country..."

Haiyue shook her head, put aside all distractions, and returned to the enrollment of the Imperial College.

Today, Hai Rui and Lin Daqin happened to go to the Imperial College to find out the situation. As foreign scholars, they obviously couldn't find out anything.

As expected, they were quite dejected when they came back, until Haiyue told them that the Imperial College would eliminate poor students and recruit talented students, then they were greatly encouraged and ready to go.

The three of them looked at each other and said in unison, "Study hard for the supplementary enrollment. We must pass the exam with honors!"

(End of this chapter)