Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

They all laughed together.

It's true that what needs to be said shouldn't be said, but it is indeed useful.

"Thank you, Brother Zigu," Jiang Zhao said with a smile.

Zhang Heng smiled gently and took a scroll from the pageboy: "I know that Zichuan is fond of painting, so I specially made a painting called 'Twin Lotus Blossoms' to wish Zichuan and his wife a long and happy life together, just like these twin lotus blossoms."

"Thank you, Zihou."

Jiang Zhao happily accepted the gift.

He could tell that the group had probably discussed it beforehand and had prepared things.

As expected, Zhang Dun and Zeng Bu successively presented a pair of Hetian jade pieces and a wedding invitation.

Jiang Zhao gladly accepted the gift and thanked him repeatedly.

"Zizhan, Ziyou, Ziping, Zihou, Zigu, Zixuan, take care!"

After carefully placing the gift, Jiang Zhao stood at the bow of the boat, bowing slightly with his hands clasped in greeting.

"Goodbye, Zichuan!"

See you in June!

"treasure!"

The six people responded in turn and walked back.

During this period, the examination for junior scholars had passed, and all examinations were completed.

This also means that all of them will be returning to their hometowns.

This time, the six people came specifically to see Jiang Zhao off, because he was the first one to leave.

It was both a farewell to Jiang Zhao and a mutual goodbye among the seven people.

From this point on, we will all go our separate ways and return home in glory.

The six people gradually walked away, and Jiang Zhao nodded slightly, about to walk to the cabin.

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves approached rapidly from afar.

Jiang Zhao turned around and saw two black horses galloping towards him. The one in the lead looked to be about fourteen or fifteen years old, with his clothes fluttering in the wind, and his cold and stern eyes. He was very heroic.

He looked anxious, with a hint of sadness flashing across his face. Behind him followed a man dressed in a gray robe, looking like a servant.

The dashing young man reined in his horse, dismounted, his robes still dusty from the journey, and shouted urgently, "Are there any ships going to Yangzhou?"

"All the boats for today have been chartered; it seems the next boat to Yangzhou won't be available until tomorrow," a boat merchant replied.

This time, it wasn't just Jiang Zhao who went down to Huaizuo; in fact, two or three hundred students from Huaizuo were also going back to their hometown together.

Because of the long journey, comfort was a concern, so the scholars from Huaizuo rented three boats, each several tens of feet long, for rest.

Normally, there is only one passenger ship going to Huaizuo per day, but this time, Jiang Zhi specially sent someone to coordinate with the ship merchants to bring three ships.

Therefore, there are naturally no boats going to Huaizuo today.

The dashing young man spoke hastily, his face filled with sorrow: "How could it be gone?"

He quickly asked, "Is the rented boat still there? Are there any seats available? Money is no problem."

Normally, upon hearing the words "money matters are easy to discuss," those ship merchants would have already gone to persuade people to charter their ships.

After all, bringing one or two more people or one or two fewer people doesn't really make a big difference.

But today is different.

The people who charter boats have special status. It would be difficult to get them to vacate their seats, let alone ship merchants or even some officials.

These ship merchants, of course, dared not lobby.

The handsome young man was also a clever man. He could tell from the appearance of the ship merchants that things were not simple. He quickly clasped his hands and said, "I wonder who the person who rents the ship is? I will ask them myself."

beg?

Jiang Zhao walked to the bow of the boat, cupped his hands and said, "I have rented all these boats. May I ask if you have any urgent business, young brother?"

The dashing young man was startled and quickly bowed, saying, "Please forgive my rudeness, Bai Ye. My maternal grandfather is seriously ill in Yangzhou, and I need to set off immediately to visit him. I came here to catch the boat. I wonder if you could make an exception for me?"

Speak human language to humans, and ghost language to ghosts.

Merchants value profit, hence the spirited young man's blunt statement that "money is easy to talk about."

Now, just by looking at the man's attire at the bow of the boat, Bai Ye knew that he was a scholar who was not short of money, so he never mentioned the word "money" and only hoped to move the other party with sincerity.

At the bow of the boat, the scholar nodded: "In that case, please board the boat. This boat is heading south and will reach the Yangzhou ferry."

Bai Ye was overjoyed and immediately bowed deeply, saying, "Thank you."

He really didn't expect that the scholar would be so easy to talk to.

"sail--"

Chapter 26 The Imperial Examination Results are announced in the Golden Hall, making him the top scholar in the land.

March 11.

The administrative center of Huainan East Road.

An elderly man, around fifty or sixty years old with graying temples, leaned against his desk, holding a pen in one hand and pressing down on government documents with the other, immersed in government affairs.

This man was none other than Liu Jin, the Pacification Commissioner of Huainan East Circuit, the top official of Huainan East Circuit, and a true regional governor.

"Lead the way quickly, I need to see Pacification Commissioner Liu."

"Do you think you can just see Lord Liu whenever you want?"

"Move aside, I have urgent business."

A noisy sound came from behind, and Liu Jin frowned slightly.

"What's all the fuss about?" He waved his hand without looking up and said, "Zhiyan, go and take care of it."

Huainan East Road has been prosperous since ancient times, and therefore it is very easy to achieve political success.

As a military commissioner and a high-ranking official in charge of a region, Liu Jin was naturally an ambitious man who hoped to serve in the capital and govern the country during his lifetime.

Now, with a golden opportunity presented by heaven, having finally secured the position of a high-ranking official in Huainan East Circuit, he did not want to waste his time on unnecessary matters.

Since taking office in Huainan, there has only been one thing that truly matters to him: his political achievements!

"Yes, sir." Wu Zhiyan, an official under the Pacification Division, quickly got up and went out.

A moment later, the noise completely disappeared, and Wu Zhiyan walked into the government office with a joyful expression, saying, "My lord, good news, great news!"

"Oh?" Liu Jin was somewhat surprised, his pen pausing in his hand. "What do you mean?"

The so-called officials under the Pacification Commissioner were those who handled the daily affairs of the Pacification Commissioner, drafted documents, and coordinated affairs.

Their role is similar to that of a secretary; they are often very close to the pacification envoy, hence the term "fake pacification envoy."

Although their official rank was not high, perhaps only seventh or eighth grade, the power they wielded was extraordinary, comparable to that of some fourth or fifth grade prefectural officials.

All of this, of course, depends on gaining the trust of the pacification envoy and understanding his habits.

Therefore, Liu Jin knew that unless it was a truly joyous occasion, his subordinate Wu Zhiyan would certainly not disturb him.

“My lord, the one who just came was a messenger,” Wu Zhiyan said.

Liu Jin suddenly realized that it was good news from the imperial examination.

The messengers, also known as the minor officials of the Ministry of Rites who were specifically responsible for matters related to the imperial examinations, had to rush to the local areas to report the good news as soon as the results of the examinations were announced.

Announcing good news requires speed, involving travel all over the country and hard work, but fortunately there is often a generous reward. It's like having no business for three years, but then being able to live off the profits for three years.

As Wu Zhiyan spoke, he handed over the oiled paper in his hand.

Liu Jin held the oiled paper, glanced at it, and fixed his gaze on a single word.

No. !

The top scholar, Jiang Zhao, courtesy name Zichuan, was from Yangzhou. His father was Jiang Zhong.

"The top pick?"

Even as a high-ranking official in charge of a region, Liu Jin was still shocked.

Or rather, it was precisely because he held a high official position that he understood the true value of being a top scholar.

Since the founding of the nation, over the past eighty years, nearly thirty top scholars have emerged, and at least half of them have entered the cabinet.

Those top scholars who didn't make it into the cabinet could often eventually earn a third-rank official robe by accumulating seniority.

A guaranteed rank 3 purple robe, what does that even mean?

Not to mention, Jiang Zhao himself is a renowned figure, and his teacher Han Zhang has a deep-rooted influence in the court, so he cannot be compared with ordinary top scholars.

"Go! Quickly inform all officials in the academy to make a great show of it, so that everyone knows that a top scholar has emerged from Huainan East Road!"

Liu Jin is not affiliated with the Han faction, but that does not prevent him from showing goodwill towards Jiang Zhao.

Moreover, the fact that Huainan East Road produced a top scholar is definitely a political achievement.

"Furthermore, a stele commemorating the top scholar was erected on the banks of the Yangtze River in Yangzhou. Civil officials were required to dismount from their sedan chairs and military officials from their horses when passing by, to commemorate his literary virtues."

The top scholar is the reincarnation of the God of Literature.

Of the 347 prefectures and counties of the Great Kingdom, 54 were economically prosperous and academically thriving, yet since the founding of the kingdom, there have been fewer than 30 top scholars (Zhuangyuan).

Yangzhou has also produced some outstanding scholars in the imperial examinations, including several second and third place winners.

But whether it was bad luck or not, no one ever became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

In contrast, the Jiangning Prefecture, Hangzhou, and Chengdu Prefectures produced significantly more top scholars (Zhuangyuan).

Of course, it could also be because Yangzhou is a small city with a small population.

Yangzhou was indeed prosperous, and its population density was exceptionally high, but it only governed five counties. Compared to the fertile Jiangning Prefecture, Hangzhou Prefecture, and Chengdu Prefecture, its total population was undoubtedly much smaller.

With a smaller population, the base number is much smaller, so the probability of producing a top scholar is naturally difficult to compare with equally prosperous cities like Chengdu and Jiangnan.

As the first scholar to achieve the highest rank in the imperial examinations in Yangzhou, Jiang Zhao's existence was of extraordinary significance and deserved great celebration, with a monument erected in his honor.

During the reign of the Great Zhou Dynasty, literary culture flourished, and the erection of monuments was not uncommon.

In some prosperous places, steles were naturally erected for the three top scholars or the junior scholars.

In some small, barren areas, monuments are erected for those who passed the imperial examinations, and occasionally, in some villages, even monuments are erected for those who passed the provincial examinations.

On the one hand, erecting a monument can highlight the greatness of his cultural virtues; on the other hand, it also tells others that his hometown has powerful backers.

Liu Jin's arrangements were quite appropriate, and Wu Guanyan, an official under the Pacification Commissioner, nodded repeatedly.

"Oh, right." Liu Jin remembered something and added, "The time of Scholar Jiang's return home must not be mistaken. I must go and congratulate him as soon as possible."

"Yes," Wu Guanyan replied repeatedly and went to make the arrangements.

"Xiao Si," Liu Jin called out.

"My lord." A servant in black approached quickly.

Liu Jin pondered for a moment and said, "I remember there is a painting called 'Spring Mountain Retreat' in the sandalwood box in the study. It is a painting by Tao Qian, a poet from the Jin Dynasty. Go find it and frame it."

If Wu Guanyan, an official under the Pacification Commissioner, is a "fake Pacification Commissioner," then the servant in black is "half a real Pacification Commissioner," and is also the only person in the Huainan East Circuit whose status is subtly higher than Wu Guanyan's.

There was no other reason than that the servant in black was Liu Jin's page, a mere retainer.

"Yes," the servant in black replied, stepping aside to stand in attendance.

Liu Jin gazed into the distance, calming his mind and spirit.

In the officialdom, where one's career is fraught with ups and downs, it's always good to maintain good relationships.

Yangzhou, Jiang Prefecture.

"The imperial examination results are announced in the Golden Hall, making him the top scholar among all the successful candidates in the imperial examinations."

"My son is actually the top scholar in the imperial examination?"

Hai Xirui's hand trembled as she looked at the letter.

"hiss"

"My son is the top scholar?"