Our family has been rebelling for generations, and you've become the top scholar in the imperia

"Grand Tutor Wang?"

Qin Feng glanced at the old man who came out and cursed inwardly.

The Nanlin Party truly deserves to die.

He just wanted to become an official; he was desperately trying to prevent himself from clearing the Qin family's name.

"Does the Grand Tutor have any good ideas?"

Zhou Zhengde leaned back on the dragon throne again and asked in a deep voice.

"I hereby report to Your Majesty!"

Grand Tutor Wang cupped his hands and glanced around at the many ministers.

"The imperial court selects officials, whether they enter the Hanlin Academy or go to other departments, all for the sake of the common people and the Great Zhou Dynasty. Knowledge is important, but ability is even more important."

Many ministers nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

Governing a prefecture and managing its people requires more than just academic knowledge.

"This year's examination results are indeed unsatisfactory. Both the top scorer, Qin Feng, and the second-place scorer, Ding Yun, are lower than in previous years. I believe that while knowledge is one aspect, ability is equally important."

"Direct entry into the Hanlin Academy will not help in governing the people!"

"How about we give them three months, each taking charge of a ward in the capital, and then observe the results of their governance before making a final decision?"

Speaking of it.

Grand Tutor Wang smiled.

"If even a single ward cannot be governed well, how can one be expected to govern a county or a prefecture in the future? I humbly request Your Majesty's decision."

Zhou Zhengde was also cursing under his breath at that moment.

In the past, when officials from the Nanlin Party entered the Hanlin Academy, why was there never any mention of a three-month assessment?

When it came to Qin Feng, they actually proposed a three-month assessment?

Although the capital city's ward is not large, it has a large population, at least several thousand people. How could someone who has just taken the imperial examination and studied for many years possibly manage several thousand people in just three months?

"What do you all think?"

Zhou Zhengde tried his best to restrain himself, and asked the officials below him, his gaze falling on the northern officials.

only!

The northern officials seemed not to see anything and made no attempt to speak.

The officials of the Nanlin Party, however, were all very excited.

They all bowed and stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I think the Grand Tutor's suggestion is excellent. It allows us to train Qin Zhuangyuan's ability to govern the people in advance. It's a great idea."

"How about a competition? The two of us manage a workshop next to each other, and after three months we will all be tested together. The winner will enter the Hanlin Academy, and if the loser, I think he should reflect for a few more years."

"Well said. The people are the foundation. Those who enter the Hanlin Academy will inevitably be sent to manage prefectures in the future. It is a good thing to train them in advance."

"..."

There were a total of thirty-six market districts in the capital.

They vary greatly in quality, with significant differences between them.

Take the East and West neighborhoods as an example.

The East Ward was inhabited by government officials, and various shops and restaurants were also located there, so the security was naturally the best.

The western part of the town is inhabited by poor people, gangs, hooligans, and beggars, making it very difficult to manage.

"Qin Feng, Ding Yun, do either of you have any objections?"

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Zhou Zhengde sighed helplessly, as always, and asked the two people below him.

"Your Majesty, I am willing!"

Ding Yun suppressed his excitement and replied with a cupped hand.

"Your humble servant is also willing!"

Qin Feng gritted his teeth and bowed in return.

Scholars are too cunning, digging one pit after another, never expecting that the Grand Tutor had another one up his sleeve.

Managing a workshop for three months, followed by an evaluation.

How could he not understand that the neighborhoods in the capital were completely different from one another? The neighborhoods where the rich lived were easy to manage, while the neighborhoods where the poor lived were difficult to manage. Anyone could understand that.

Given the nature of the Southern Forestry Party.

They will definitely make a fuss about this.

"In that case, select two wards and have Qin Feng and his companion take over as ward chiefs for three months. As for which two wards..."

"Your Majesty, the East Ward and the West Ward will suffice!"

Ren Qianyuan seized the opportunity.

He jogged out of the line and almost tripped and fell.

"I have heard that Scholar Qin is currently living in the West Ward. This is partly because it is close by and he is familiar with the situation there, making him adept at managing the ward. In addition, Scholar Qin himself comes from a poor background, making the West Ward an excellent choice."

"On the other hand, Ding Yun has lived in Dongfang since childhood and is familiar with the situation there. The assessment only lasts three months. If he is unfamiliar with the place, the final result may not be satisfactory."

The surrounding officials' eyes lit up.

As expected of the Vice Minister of Rites, he is now a key member of the Nanlin Party.

The reaction time is fast.

The difference between these two neighborhoods is like heaven and earth.

Especially the Xifang area; to put it bluntly, whenever a murder occurs in the capital, it invariably originates from Xifang.

Standing to the side, Grandpa Miao was extremely anxious.

The Emperor was not fully aware of the situation in the Western Ward. He would usually ask them questions, but no one dared to tell him that the Western Ward was in such a chaotic state.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the imperial palace is located in the capital.

However, if the palace wanted to get news from the outside world, it could only do so through the eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial and through reports from officials who entered the palace.

but……

No one could tell the truth. Even though the eunuch faction and the Nanlin faction were fighting to the death, both sides remained silent on this first point.

"Would you be willing to do so?"

Before Grandpa Miao could come up with a solution...

Zhou Zhengde, who was on the dragon throne, had already spoken.

"Your humble servant is willing."

"Your subject is willing."

With things having come to this point, Qin Feng had no choice but to obey orders.

Judging from the situation, the emperor probably doesn't know much about the situation in the Western Ward.

Take yesterday for example. On his way from the city gate to the west ward, Qin Yu encountered one fight, two gang battles, and three shop robberies.

It's absolutely a complete mess.

He even wondered if he had somehow ended up in Gotham, the Great Zhou Dynasty.

It's even more chaotic than Yunxiang County.

No wonder the old emperor secretly supported the eunuch faction; look how well they've been deceived.

"Therefore, Qin Feng and Ding Yun accept the order. Starting tomorrow, you two will temporarily assume the positions of Ward Chiefs and be responsible for managing the two wards. Three months later, I will personally lead all officials to conduct an assessment."

"Your humble servant obeys the decree!"

After receiving the order, Qin Feng retreated behind a pillar by the door.

He slowly rolled up his sleeves while tying the scholar's robe around his waist.

Leaning against the pillar, I rubbed my wrists and patted my calves.

He kept moving his body.

It's true that a gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after twenty years.

But I'm a bandit.

Animosity must be avenged on the spot.

"I'm so angry! If I don't vent this anger today, I won't even be able to pee properly when I get home!"

After loosening his muscles and bones, Qin Feng muttered a curse under his breath.

He had read the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty. In the early days of the dynasty, it was common for officials to fight outside the palace after court sessions. At that time, there were many military generals but few civil officials, and they would fight at the slightest disagreement.

Eventually, it even developed into a custom.

However, as civil officials came to control the government, this practice gradually disappeared.

Time passed by, second by second.

"The court session is over!"

As they approached, Grandpa Miao let out a shout.

The grand assembly has ended.

Ding Yun, who was also standing at the very back, had just turned around when she ran into Qin Feng, who was all smiles.

Before he could react...

Qin Feng made a move!

He went up and covered the guy's mouth with one hand, twisted him behind his back, and used his other arm to strangle him.

They dragged themselves straight out of the main hall.