February 29th.
Zhang Zhou hurried out of Xishan, but had to go back under Xiao Jing's repeated urging.
He did not enter the palace, but went directly to the gate of Gongyuan. Xiao Jing found a temporary courtyard here, just like his meeting hall. When Zhang Zhou arrived, in addition to Yang Peng, there were also commanders of Jin Yiwei inside. Mu Bin, the envoy, Guo Ang, the envoy of Fusi Town in Beizhen, and Zheng Sui, the governor of Dongchang, and others were also there.
There were only two chairs. Xiao Jing could only sit on the Huanghuali armchair, and the other one was prepared for Zhang Zhou. After they sat down, even Mu Bin had to stand and listen.
"Eunuch Xiao, this is such an urgent matter that I have to tell you."
Zhang Zhou thought to himself, the battle you are waging is quite big. I wonder if you thought you were going to do it all together? Rise up and judge me.
Xiao Jing sighed, "Mr. Zhang, the results are not to be filled out immediately. His Majesty has ordered that the inner curtain should be summarized and reported before that. He also specifically stated that he would listen to you. I think our family has no choice but to invite you back as soon as possible. You must have had a hard time on your journey."
Zhang Zhou smiled.
It’s not too far back from Xishan, but the journey is really hard.
"As a candidate, I am a candidate. What opinions can I have on the inner curtain?" Zhang Zhou didn't think it was a good thing for the emperor to let him participate.
But there are some things that seem to require his intervention.
How to ensure that Cheng Minzheng, Tang Yin and Xu Jing can change history without being deeply involved?
This all requires skills.
Xiao Jing took out several recent detailed files on Cheng Minzheng's case and gave them to Zhang Zhou to read. While Zhang Zhou was flipping through them, he also gave a verbal explanation: "What you said before , I sent someone to remind Master Cheng, but he refused to write a word on the confession, even if he was given a chance."
Zhang Zhou did not leave his eyes. Those files, he chuckled and said, "A staid old scholar was wronged and repaid twice. No matter how many reminders were given to him, he did not want to admit any of his mistakes."
"Ah. ”
Xiao Jing looked at Zhang Zhou in surprise.
Since you can guess Cheng Minzheng’s stubbornness, you actually asked someone to remind him
“You don’t have to be surprised, Eunuch Xiao, he is angry now and feels that he has suffered a great deal. He will be like this because of his grievance. After a few days, or even after he is caught in Beizhen Fusi, he will figure it out." Zhang Zhou said.
Xiao Jing smiled bitterly, "This means that if he refuses to admit his fault on his own, then he will be tortured about his crime."
Zhang Zhou shook his head and did not explain much.
The character of the literati is very strong, but it also coexists with the weakness of the literati. Even if it involves matters of national justice, there are not a few literati who grovel, not to mention Zhang Zhou’s reminders to Cheng Minzheng. If it really happens, Cheng Minzheng will gradually feel afraid and want to escape from the sea of suffering as soon as possible.
The general meaning is that the pressure on Cheng Minzheng is stillIt was not enough, so Cheng Minzheng felt that he could still carry it.
"Our family is about to enter the inner curtain. Do you have any reminders? Please give me some advice."
Xiao Jing now regards Zhang Zhou as his staff strategist.
In fact, even if the emperor didn't say it, Xiao Jing would do it. Although Dongchang is very experienced in dealing with other matters, there is no precedent for imperial examination fraud. .
"Eunuch Xiao, if you go into the inner curtain and ask me for my opinion first, wouldn't it be inappropriate?"
"It doesn't matter, it won't be known to outsiders. Those of you here, let alone the grading of the inner curtain, are not allowed to interfere with you. You just need to make a few comments. We thought we were just going into the inner curtain to ask questions and just keep an eye on it. But if you go in Only later did I realize that the situation inside was very complicated and hard to explain."
Xiao Jing looked embarrassed.
Zhang Zhou knew what Xiao Jing was in trouble for.
The inner curtain officers inside are headed by Li Dongyang, and there are a bunch of Yanguan and Hanlin officials below, all of whom are eloquent and unwilling to admit defeat. Now the emperor even wants to check the inner curtains. , and it did not diminish the prestige of Li Dongyang and the others. In addition, the Hongzhi period was a period when the power of civil servants was almost at its peak. Xiao Jing, as a layman, certainly felt that he was unable to do something as professional as the examination papers.
To put it bluntly.
Xiao Jing needs a professional "consultant".
But in both the government and the public, no one who understands the imperial examinations would dare to put forward some opinions and disturb the inner curtain. Do you want to hang out in the civil service circle?
Whether it is the emperor or Xiao Jing, everyone can see that the only person who can break the monopoly of civil servants on imperial examinations and put forward some valuable opinions is Zhang Zhou, who was born in Confucianism but dared to jump out of the comfortable circle of Confucianism.
"Oh, since Eunuch Xiao is willing to listen to what I'm about to say, I'll just say a few words casually and don't break the rules of grading behind the curtain."
"Please tell me. Except for Commander Mou, the rest of the people can wait in the courtyard first."
After Xiao Jing received Zhang Zhou's face-to-face advice, he became more confident. This time, he took Mou Bin directly with him. Waiting for Jin Yiwei to enter the inner curtain.
Li Dongyang was still waiting for the news about the unsealed seal. When he saw Xiao Jing bringing the Jin Yiwei in, he immediately felt that there might be a big problem. After all, Xiao Jing had been very low-key the past few times. Even the boss of Dongchang Factory must abide by the rules, but now, it seems that Xiao Jing doesn't want to endure it anymore.
"Eunuch Xiao, Commander Mou, what are you two?"
Li Dongyang glanced at the Jinyi guards behind them, meaning that you are not here to arrest anyone. Right
Cheng Minzheng has already gone out, does Dongchang still suspect that there is an accomplice in Cheng Minzheng's scandal?
Xiao Jing smiled and said, "We are just here to supervise Kai Mi on orders from the emperor." Feng. By the way, Mr. Li Ge, the reexamination of the Zhu Juan is over. No problems have been found."
Li Dongyang waved his hand, and Liu Chun, who was also the examiner, came over with a wooden tray. , there are four stacks insidePapers, arranged horizontally.
"This is" Xiao Jing looked over.
Li Dongyang said, “During the re-examination of Zhu Juan, we found four questionable papers. Three of them have been selected as tribute students who have passed the examination, while one has not been selected. However, due to It meets the questionable premise of Eunuch Xiao, so I specially picked it out."
Xiao Jing nodded, thinking to himself.
Mr. Zhang was right. Li Binzhi is very independent in his work.
This is what happened
Xiao Jing asked, "So Mr. Li Ge, what criteria are used to judge whether these papers are questionable?"
Li Dongyang said respectfully, "The examination questions proposed by Cheng Minzheng were mostly based on the Five Classics topics. Then I re-examined the Five Classics articles in each file, involving the general meaning and general introduction, to see if there are any traces of chiseling. From the three The examiners above thought there were reasons worthy of discussion, so they reported it. The following four papers were selected from more than a dozen papers and specially taken for detailed discussion with Eunuch Xiao. "
This involves. A very professional question.
After all, Xiao Jing has never taken an exam before, so he doesn’t know the rules behind the questions. He doesn’t even know what is being tested in each of the three exams.
This is also the reason why he feels so anxious.
How can a layman manage this case if a layman comes to take care of other people’s professional affairs?
Xiao Jing said with a smile, “We don’t know much about it. When it comes to doubtful questions, we just know the test questions in advance. Then It should be doubtful if the article is well written, or it should not be written by his status."
"No." Li Dongyang explained seriously, "If there is any problem. , most of the topics were not written in one go, and must have traces of long-term deletions and deliberation. Some allusions will be too neat, and there will be some differences in the meaning of the scriptures. There are many mixed elements."
Xiao Jing seemed to understand something and said with a smile, "It means that if I had known the test questions in advance, I would not have written this article by myself. , will find different people to review the details, but the articles written by different people must be mixed, and if there are obvious signs of scrutiny and consideration, they will be considered suspicious."
"Yes. "Li Dongyang nodded.
Xiao Jing said, "If the candidates involved in the case are not among these, can we clear their suspicions?"
Li Dongyang frowned and looked at Xiao Jing, shook his head and said, "I can't say that." "Say so."
Xiao Jing smiled and said, "Whether the people involved in the case are among them, it can almost be determined that there is something wrong with it."
Li Dongyang doesn't like to answer this kind of direct affirmation or denial. On the issue, civil servants talk about moderation, saying that everything can be discussed, and that people and things cannot be generalized. To put it bluntly, civil servants like to be a troublemaker. This is something that scholars carry in their bones.
He is not like Xiao Jing, the admiral of the East Factory, who likes to make clear decisions about right and wrong, guilt and innocence.Argument.
"If it is among them, then the suspicion will be greater." Li Dongyang said.
"That's it, let's open the seal."
Xiao Jing stopped talking nonsense and directly asked someone to get the ink scroll.
And it must be opened under the supervision of Jin Yiwei, and then the names on the examination papers will be compared.
Four to five thousand examination papers must be opened at once and detailed comparisons must be made. This is a large amount of work.
But the inner curtain officers not only have examiners, but also subordinate officers sent by Shuntian Mansion to help. But even if there is help, it will take at least two hours to complete all the papers. Compare.
This time it is not just about selecting the three or four hundred candidates who were selected. The papers of all candidates must be compared with the ink scroll and the ink scroll, and some will be selected as the "secondary list." "These people on the deputy list will enter the Imperial Academy to pay tribute, and some will be given teaching positions. For example, the official positions such as Imperial Academy and Principal that Zhu Youtang arranged for Zhang Zhou will not deprive these people of the qualification to participate in the imperial examination in the future. .
But if officials are released by paying tribute and appointed directly to their respective places, then these people will basically have no chance of participating in the examination in the future.
"Mr. Li Ge, what did Eunuch Xiao mean before? It sounds like your majesty has no intention of embarrassing the candidates here, so why did you stage such a big battle?"
Liu Chun I went with Li Dongyang to meet Xiao Jing and Mou Bin.
While waiting for Kai Mi Feng, the two of them arrived at the marking room first, and Liu Chun couldn't help but ask Li Dongyang's opinion.
Li Dongyang seemed to be in low spirits and said, "It's over early. It's time to go back and rest. I can't afford to bother."
Others want to target Cheng Minzheng, but Li Dongyang is not interested in this.
He just wanted to settle the matter, go back as soon as possible, continue to be his elder, and resume his normal life. Please remember to bookmark, the latest and fastest website is free to read without anti-theft