Chapter 192 The Provincial Examination is approaching.
It rains continuously and I don’t know how spring is going. When the weather clears, I feel that summer is deep.
By the time Su Ze looked up from studying hard, it was already the end of May.
The date for the provincial examination has been set, and it will be the ninth day of August as in previous years.
As usual, the imperial court promoted the examiner (chief examiner) to Fujian Superintendent Wang Daokun for the rural examination, and appointed Fujian Xuezheng as deputy examiner, and eight Xuedao Yamen as co-examiners. These are all officials who need to participate in marking.
For officials, this is a hard job. The grading work is time-intensive and the task is heavy. You must know that there were 3,500 candidates for the last Fujian Provincial Examination, and eight fellow examiners were responsible for completing the examination within five days. After reading so many papers and then selecting qualified ones from them and handing them over to the examiner for review, 116 papers have to be read in one day.
This is not a question of choice and judgment, but a serious eight-legged essay.
Such a heavy marking work also comes with huge responsibilities.
In the Ming Dynasty, the punishment for cheating in examinations was extremely severe. Once there were errors in marking the papers, the culpability might be deferred.
Wang Daokun accepted the imperial decree. The examiners of the rural examinations in the Ming Dynasty were very aristocratic and were also known as "knowledge of tribute". During the Tang and Song Dynasties, this was the right of prime ministers.
Because the examiner of the palace examination in the Ming Dynasty was the emperor, the general examination did not dare to call it "Zhi Gong Ju". The examiner of the provincial examination called it "Zhi Gong Ju" to show respect.
Next, Wang Daokun took the imperial edict and appointed the Fujian inspector and deputy inspector as the chief and deputy inspectors, responsible for supervising this rural examination.
Next is the paper printer. The officials from the eight prefectures in Fujian gathered in Fuzhou City. Finally, Zhang Sijing, the official from Yanping Prefecture, was chosen as the paper printer. The provincial examination was responsible for printing the test papers, and the official from the first government held this position.
Zhang Sijing's eyes flashed. The examiner will get the test paper the day before the provincial examination. He has to know the contents of the paper in advance than other examiners, which is a very important position.
Two more test-takers were set up to collect and receive test papers. They were also selected from Fujian county magistrates by drawing lots. This time, two county magistrates under Quanzhou Prefecture and Tingzhou Prefecture won the lottery.
The two people looked depressed. The examiner has a heavy responsibility. If the examinee's examination paper is damaged or lost, he will bear a great responsibility, and he will be locked up in the examination hall with the examinee to suffer, so most officials are not willing to take the role.
There are five more sealing officers, who are responsible for checking whether there are any marks on the papers, sealing the examination papers that are correct, and handing them over to the transcription officer for copying.
Mi Feng Guan has a heavy responsibility, and it is also their responsibility to check whether the calligraphy of the examination paper is up to standard. If the handwriting is not up to standard, Mi Feng Guan will be directly dismissed and appointed by five magistrates under Fuzhou Prefecture.
Ten more copying officers were appointed. This was another hard job. They had to copy 3,500 examination papers. This time, lots were drawn, and they were appointed by officials from each government or magistrates from each county. Those who were chosen also had sad faces. .
Finally, there are two reading officers. The reading officer is the proofreading official. They are responsible for sending the red scrolls copied by the transcription officer and the ink scrolls written by the candidates to the candidates. The candidates check whether the transcription officer has transcribed correctly. If If the transcriber makes an error in the transcript, the candidate has the right to ask the transcriber to send it back and re-transcribe.
The examiners were Jinshi from Fujian Province. In the end, Baizhi County also won the lottery and could only stand in the ranks of examiners with a wry smile. This was also a hard job.
There are also six inspectors, who are responsible for guarding the examination room sentry, patrolling the examination room and guarding the examination hall. They are taken by the chief officer of the Fujian Dusi Yamen.
Finally, there are eight supply officers, who are served by the eight governors. They are responsible for the supply of candles in the examination room, and the food for the examiners and guard sentries. The candidates are not responsible for the food, and they should bring it themselves as before.
The importance of the rural examination is reflected in the fact that every detail is governed by the imperial court's rules and regulations. Officials in each link are selected from officials throughout the government, in an attempt to prevent examination officials from collaborating with candidates to cheat.
But in fact, cheating in the rural examinations continued throughout the Ming Dynasty, and there were various scandals in every provincial examination.
For example, we often hear news about a certain candidate who is illiterate in arts and sciences, so much so that the examiners of the rural examinations are trembling with fear, fearing that some big news will ruin their futures.
Next, Wang Daokun will complete the renovation of the Fujian Examination Gongyuan in the two months of June and July, and then carry out various preparations for the provincial examination.
[Study hard in school, gain imperial examination skill experience +20, Lv9, 915/5000]
Su Ze looked at his imperial examination skills. With the 13 points of intelligence bonus and hard study, he can get 20 points of imperial examination skill experience every hour. If you study for four hours a day, you can get 80 skill experience points.
In this way, you can improve your imperial examination skills to level 10 before the provincial examination begins in August.
Su Ze temporarily gave up other skills, stayed up late at night to study, and experienced the imperial examination every day.
Lin Mojun once again asked Lin Liangjun to give him a soothing sachet, and told Su Ze to prepare for the exam with peace of mind and leave the affairs of Changning Wei to her.
During this period, Fang Ruolan also sent letters. One was from Fang Ruolan to Su Ze, telling him to pay attention to his health and prepare for the exam. Huang Tiju from Huimin Pharmacy also sent health-preserving decoctions.
The other letter was a letter written by Fang Wanghai to his family. Fang Ruolan also copied part of it and gave it to Su Ze according to Fang Wanghai's instructions.
Fang Wanghai has arrived in Jiangnan. The letter said that everything is fine and that the banknotes are being rectified according to Su Ze's banknote laws. Fang Wanghai told Su Ze to prepare for the exam with peace of mind and concentrate on this year's provincial examination.
In addition, there is also a copy of the latest "Selected Journals of Current Affairs", which was sent back by Fang Ruolan's uncle in Nanjing Imperial College.
Fang Ruolan also sent a sleeping sachet. Her embroidery work was still so abstract and there was no progress. The letter said that Mrs. Li had given up and had recruited two rough ladies with outstanding embroidery skills from Quanzhou Prefecture to prepare for her. Marry Fang Ruolan together.
Miss Fang proudly wrote about her victory in the letter, and Su Ze suspected that she deliberately failed to embroider well.
Su Ze's classmates, Chen Chaoyuan, Li Qiyuan, Wang Xun, Han Li, and Yu Zongzhang, all studied hard in the county school to prepare for the exam. However, in Hai Rui's view, none of them were good enough to pass the provincial exam. Instead, Su Ze was the last to study. Most promising.
Hai Rui was also amazed at Su Ze's learning progress. You must know that people like Chen Chaoyuan started studying at a young age. They started reading the Four Books at the age of ten and started to study the Five Classics at the age of fifteen or sixteen.
Su Ze just started studying the Five Classics last year, and his level in the Four Books was only average when he first entered school.
In more than a year, Su Ze has won three consecutive exams and was admitted as a scholar, and now he has become a candidate who can challenge the candidates in the county school.
You must know that among the provincial examinations, the joint examinations and the palace examinations, the provincial examination has the highest elimination rate. 3,500 students took the examination, and only 90 students succeeded in the examination.
With such a cruel elimination rate, many candidates like Fan Jin passed the exam from young to old.
Hai Rui was very satisfied with Su Ze. The only thing he was dissatisfied with was that Eunuch Tao, who supervised the coinage in Fujian, always came to see Su Ze every now and then. Now there were rumors throughout Nanping City that Su Ze was clinging to powerful men.
Hai Rui had previously heard that Su Ze was dating the mine supervisor Eunuch Hu, and Hai Rui thought it was just a rumor. Now that he saw Su Ze getting close to Eunuch Tao with his own eyes, Hai Rui was a little dissatisfied. He invited Su Ze to let him study hard and feel at ease. Take the right path in the imperial examination.
Su Ze had no way to explain, so he could only accept Hai Rui's teachings.
At the shabby pavilion outside Nanping City, Yanping magistrates Zhang Sijing and Huang Shixing, who had rushed back from Fuzhou City, and other academy students were having a banquet.
As a sealing officer, he only had to arrive at Gongyuan ten days before the provincial examination. He returned to Yanping Mansion to explain the work at hand, and then continued to go out to the city for fun.
The official history of the execution room of the government office most likes this kind of push official master who can abandon the boss. The previous magistrate was so good at suppressing these subordinate officials that they couldn't hold their heads up. But now that the new magistrate appointed by the imperial court has not yet taken office, the subordinate officials in the execution room have regained their authority. They have taken advantage of several cases in Yanping Mansion and extorted a lot of money.
Lin Xianyang, who served as military officer in the government office, often complained to Su Ze about this. Su Ze just shook his head slightly. In an era of backward transportation technology, when ruling such a huge empire, local officials at all levels often had such shortcomings. bit situation.
The reason is also very simple. Fang Zhifu was promoted suddenly. After Fang Zhifu was promoted, the Department of Civil Affairs and Literature and Selection would re-elect a new Yanping Zhifu.
Not to mention the work efficiency of the staff, the appointment of the new prefect has to be issued, and the new prefect has to rush to Yanping Prefecture. With the traffic conditions of this era, three months of walking on the road is considered fast.
When the prefect was vacant, Li Tongpan, who temporarily took over the post, had a weak personality and naturally could not suppress these subordinate officials.
And Zhang Tuiguan, a chief official who does not care about anything, is the favorite official of the subordinates below. They only want to have no achievements in their tenure and just go around all day long. Naturally, the subordinates below are even more corrupt and pervert the law.
Su Ze could only sigh. In a society ruled by man, having a reliable parent official was really a blessing for the local people.
In the humble pavilion, Huang Shixing poured wine for Zhang Sijing and congratulated him with everyone: "Congratulations to Mr. Zhang on being appointed as the sealing officer." Participating in the provincial examination is a big event. The chief examiner will be promoted after presiding over the examination,
and the other participating officials will also You will receive preferential recommendations, which means you will get extra points in the work assessment that year.
Compared with the hard-working examiner, sealing officer, and reading officer, the examiner can be said to be the most relaxed examination official.
After everyone finished drinking, Zhang Sijing began to talk about the current situation again:
"The imperial court wants to clear up the money laws. Your Majesty's idea is good. It's a pity that by entrusting these traitors to do it, it will harm the people again!" Huang Shixing and everyone agreed
.
Zhang Sijing added: "A few days ago, I and several old friends in the matter corresponded, and we all mentioned this matter. The eunuchs are harming the country!" Everyone
agreed again. At this time, Huang Shixing said again:
"Master Zhang, I heard that Changning Wei Su Ze and the eunuch Tao sent by the imperial court were close friends. Students heard that someone witnessed Eunuch Tao and Su Ze talking in front of the county school."
When it was mentioned that Su Ze and the eunuch were close friends, everyone naturally became excited.
It was politically correct for the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty to criticize the eunuchs. Naturally, they did not dare to complain in front of the eunuchs, but if they did not complain behind their backs, they would be looked down upon.
Su Ze and Eunuch Tao's public interactions were naturally looked down upon by scholars, and Zhang Sijing even directly expressed his dislike for Su Ze.
"This man is seeking fame and reputation, but he dares to comment on the articles of sages. That county scholar Hai Rui is ridiculous, and he dares to annotate the sages!" "
These two masters and disciples are still friends with powerful traitors. They really disgrace us scholars!
Zhang Sijing scolded Fang Wanghai, whom he hated most, and said: "The initiator of all this is the former Yanping magistrate Fang Wanghai! He cheated in the boy examination, let Su Zezhong become a scholar, and then recruited him as his son-in-law! What a great traitor to the country. " !"
After saying this, the scholars present became even more sour.
The daughter of Magistrate Fang has a good reputation in Nanping City. Of course, Miss Fang has never appeared in public, but the ladies in the city have still seen her.
For such a beautiful woman to be engaged to a poor boy like Su Ze, those unmarried scholars were naturally gritted in their teeth.
Huang Shixing had also made a vow not to get married unless he passed the imperial examination. He had also heard of Fang Ruolan's name, and he hated Su Ze even more.
Zhang Sijing continued: "I also wrote a letter to Inspector Wang, asking him to re-evaluate Su Ze's merit. It's a pity that Inspector Wang was busy with official business and did not come to Yanping Mansion." Naturally, Zhang Sijing would not criticize Wang Daokun. Wang Daokun was a Hanlin official
. He is more aristocratic than their fellow science and education officials. This time he is presiding over a provincial examination, and he might be able to achieve great success when he returns to the capital.
Zhang Sijing continued: "You should keep an eye on this Su Ze. If he is really an accomplice and assists in perpetrating rape and corrupting the Fujian Money Law, I will definitely ask my friends from the science and education department to write a letter of impeachment!" Everyone praised Mr. Zhang for his integrity and uprightness. Zhang
Sijing In the praise of these scholars, he became even more inflated and gradually became more open-minded.
"What is a crown prince? A crown prince is the foundation of a country! The foundation of the country has not yet been determined. If something happens to your majesty, wouldn't it mean that all the country's affairs will fall into the hands of women and powerful traitors?" When this topic was mentioned, everyone's faces turned pale
. .
Is this something that a group of students can listen to?
This is nonsense.
If word spreads, wouldn't it mean that Zhang Sijing cursed your Majesty?
Of course, everyone knew that Zhang Sijing was demoted to Yanping Mansion for "discussing the foundation of the country". The request to establish the crown prince was naturally Qingliu's position. Qingliu had already formed a political group around King Yu. Zhang Sijing's opportunistic petition, It was also to submit a certificate of surrender to King Yu.
This kind of high-level struggle is naturally not something that talented people like Huang Shixing can get involved in.
A gust of cool breeze blew over, and Zhang Sijing sobered up a little. He also knew that he had made a mistake, so he changed the subject and said,
"When you go back, tell your family that you will receive more copper coins."
Everyone immediately understood what Zhang Sijing meant, and they all also The children of the big family also heard about the money minting in the sixth year of Jiajing.
The imperial court's attempt to unblock money laws was nothing more than forcibly minting large amounts of money.
When the government minted a lot of money, it would definitely force the people to use the money. At this time, using the collected copper coins to re-cast the money, and then following the government and forcibly exchanging the money for silver, was a sure-fire business.
For a big family like them, it is not difficult to have a money maker to mint copper coins privately at home. Some families have done this thirty years ago.
After Zhang Sijing reminded them, everyone immediately understood.
Huang Shixing secretly said in Zhang Sijing's ear: "Teacher, the money and the furnace are ready at home. The five hundred taels of silver you gave me last time will be put into good use." Zhang Sijing nodded slightly. The five hundred taels of silver
are The money he misappropriated from the official office was just waiting to make a fortune from this great coin-making business.
Qingliu also needs money.
If you don't have money to move around, how can you get back from your job as an official in Yanping Mansion?
Zhang Sijing stroked his beard. It was a powerful traitor like Eunuch Tao who disrupted Qian Law anyway. What does it have to do with Qingliu himself?
(End of chapter)