Without money, what is the point of being a traitor?

Chapter 564: The Blade on the Test Questions

When they arrived at the Buddhist temple, Pei Yuan looked through the open door and saw the candidates looking at the painting in groups of three or five.

Some were casually commenting on each other's poems; some who were not interested were talking enthusiastically about the exam; there were also a few who seemed to be deep in thought, with a somewhat unnatural look on their faces.

Pei Yuan didn't care too much.

Pei Yuan not only did not have any other thoughts about these people who realized their situation earlier, but on the contrary, he felt that these people might be more reliable.

At least, these guys are already wary of the impact of this incident.

But it doesn't matter. As long as they are on this boat, they will naturally be unable to extricate themselves.

Looking back at Chen Toutie’s behavior, it was all because of Pei Yuan’s involvement that he was returned from the East Factory and lost his job. He was unwilling to accept this and so he blamed himself.

At the beginning, Cheng Leixiang was simply tricked onto the ship by Pei Yuan.

Now these two people are working diligently for Pei Yuan to do the beheading work.

One was loyally guarding Tianjin and protecting the capital; the other was promoting Luojiao in Shandong and eroding the imperial power that did not go to the countryside.

Now that neither of these two guys can turn back, their only hope is that the powerful Pei Qianhu can win in the end.

Otherwise, they will all end up with their property confiscated and their clans exterminated.

Pei Yuan also believed that as time went by, these people would stand on his side without hesitation.

As soon as Pei Yuan appeared, he was immediately noticed by Huo Tao.

Huo Tao hurried forward and greeted him with a smile.

Like Huo Tao, Tian Fu also had a predetermined position as master and servant. When he saw Huo Tao stand up, he also stepped forward and saluted.

The movement of the two immediately attracted the attention of others, and then they also noticed Pei Yuan.

So, everyone finally gave Pei Yuan the famous scene he had been dreaming of.

——He called me brother and bowed his head.

Pei Yuan happily helped everyone up and invited them to sit down. When he passed by the scroll, he casually said to everyone, "This was painted by Jinyiwei Commander Lü Ji. His paintings are one of the best in the world. With the poems written by you brothers, it can be passed down through the ages."

Everyone laughed when they heard it, and some people looked up, but no one reacted much.

Pei Yuan then realized it.

There is no such thing as a stupid person if someone can pass the imperial examination.
Perhaps some people are not unaware of the meaning, but rather, they have already realized what is going on, and this is the result of making a decision.

That's why they can chat and laugh so happily without caring at all.

Pei Yuan was surrounded by people and came to the long table. A Jinyiwei asked if he wanted to serve the dishes. Pei Yuan said, "No hurry, I have guests who haven't arrived yet."

As they were talking, someone brought over Tang Gao and three others who had changed into new clothes.

Pei Yuan subconsciously looked at the candidates around him, and indeed saw that many of them had bathed.

For a moment, everyone was relieved about the late arrival of these scholars.

It is precisely because Pei Yuan has placed too much expectations on these people that he cannot help but worry about gains and losses.

He Han, who was closest to the door, could tell at a glance that Tang Gao and the other two had the aura of candidates who had passed the imperial examination. He smiled and stood up to greet them, "Could it be that the three of you are also candidates who have passed the imperial examination this time?"

Before Tang Gao and others came, they thought they were here to attend Pei Yuan's small banquet, just like they had on the post boat, but they didn't expect there would be so many people there.

The three of them were at a loss for a moment.

Then, the three of them swept their eyes over the young scholars.

Cai Ang gently pulled Tang Gao's clothes and motioned Tang Gao to look to the side.

Only then did Tang Gao notice the painting placed aside.

Then, Tang Gao seemed to realize something.

They had noticed such a painting in Pei Yuan's study last time. Now, they saw that the people in the painting were all here. They were clearly the twelve candidates who took part in the special examination this time.

Tang Gao was stunned for a moment, and Pei Yuan took over the conversation and introduced them to everyone, "These three are all outstanding students. They were brought to the capital by this captain himself."

He Han became curious and asked immediately.

While Pei Yuan introduced the identities of the three people one by one and arranged their seats, he also told everyone how the three people were delayed by rain on the road and had to ask him for help at the post station.

He Han and other candidates from Shandong and Liaodong heard that Captain Pei had used all his connections and privileges to rush to Beijing to register the candidates for the position at the Ministry of Rites at the last minute.

Everyone felt more and more that this was a heroic act. Captain Pei really had the demeanor of an old friend from Yuncheng, and the call of "brother" was not in vain.

When Tang Gao and the other two recalled the past, every incident was still vivid in their minds.

In fact, even if there had been no rain, it would have been too late for them to rush to the capital.

If Pei Yuan had not used the order from the eunuch guarding Shandong to allow official ships to pass through the canal unhindered, and if they had not used the name of Jinyiwei to constantly replace the post horses to travel, how would they have had the chance to report to the Ministry of Rites on time?
Apart from anything else, the fact that you don’t have to wait at the sluice gate saves a lot of time.

Thinking of the days when Pei Yuan took them on a journey through the open air and drank happily together, the three of them were a little emotional and couldn't help but sigh, "If it weren't for Captain Pei's loyalty, I'm afraid I don't know how long we would have wasted in the imperial examinations."

They all did well in the exam this time. It was precisely because of their excellent performance that people like Tang Gao, who had failed the exam many times, realized that this opportunity to take the special exam was rare.

If I fail to catch up in this subject, I will have to rely on my luck in the future.

Pei Yuan laughed, "It's fate that you met me. There's no need to say anything else, just give me a toast later."

There was an empty seat next to Pei Yuan, and Chen Xinjian also sat there with a smile on his face.

Everyone knew that Chen Xinjian was Pei Yuan's trusted military officer, so no one cared about it.

Xie Bin was careful, and after looking at the positions of the people, he asked Pei Yuan with a smile, "Could there be other candidates from the same subject who have not arrived yet?"

Pei Yuan shook his head and said, "They are not candidates from the same exam. We will know when they come."

Everyone was curious but didn't dare to ask further questions.

The Jinyiwei came forward to serve tea one by one, and then some people started to exchange ideas and discuss the test questions.

Perhaps it was because this special examination intercepted the good fortune of the regular examination in the ninth year of Zhengde, the test questions created by the original team also had two identical questions.

The first of the Four Books is titled from the Analects, "Serve your ruler respectfully before you eat."

The last question from the Four Books is from Mencius, "Taking it makes the people happy."

The first question clearly expressed the dissatisfaction with the officials who were in office but doing nothing and living a mediocre life. It can be said that it was full of the stench of Liu Jin's new policies.

Needless to say, it must have come from the emperor's instruction.

It is conceivable that Liang Chu, the Grand Secretary whose reputation was ruined and who had been reduced to a mascot, had no intention of opposing the emperor, so he naturally assisted the emperor in raising this question.

The second question is interesting.

This is what Mencius explained by using the example of "King Wu of Zhou conquering King Zhou", which shows that the support of the people is the most important. "If the people support him, he will be the emperor; if the people are alienated, he will be a tyrant."

It emphasizes that "heaven's will" must also obey "public opinion."

It can be said that anyone with a little bit of ideological awareness can see the difference between these two questions. Anyone with a little bit of political sense can also think of the vigorous new policy of Liu Jin some time ago, and Liu Jin himself who was cut into pieces!
These two questions are too difficult.

It can be said that in just a few words, they came into direct confrontation.

Pei Yuan listened to the candidates' analysis with great interest and also found it a little unbelievable.

Because the first two questions on the Four Books are the original questions from the ninth year of Zhengde.

Pei Yuan really couldn't imagine that in history, these two questions would appear so easily on the examination paper for admission to Jinshi.

first question.

Zhu Houzhao: What have I done wrong? I have to work hard as a tax collector. It is only natural.

Question two.

From the indescribable will: You want to be King Zhou, I will cut you down.

Originally, the third question of this subject should have been from the Doctrine of the Mean, "The Way of Heaven and Earth can be fully expressed in one word."

This question is also very interesting.

If we look at it from the perspective of Zhu Xi's "The Doctrine of the Mean", "The way of Heaven and Earth is to be utmost sincere and without rest" it seems that the key word is "sincerity".

But it is not.

Sometimes a question is not necessarily a question, and an answer is not necessarily an answer.

This question must be read in conjunction with the previous two questions.

If we combine the strange situations in the first two questions, this "Way of Heaven and Earth can be summed up in one word" is in the title of the book, "The Doctrine of the Mean".

Question 3!
From the spectators who have not been affected by the political struggle: Stop fighting!
However, in the ninth year of Zhengde, this examination was changed to a special examination and held in advance, which did cause a slight butterfly effect.

The third question from the Four Books was changed to, "Yu thought that there were people drowning in the world, and it was because of him that they drowned."

Pei Yuan, who was such a thoughtful person, couldn't help but think about it.

What changes does this butterfly effect represent?
The first two questions are the same, which should mean that the two parties in the game still maintain their original attitudes.

What about the third question?

Did the person who has the ability to intervene in the third question simply change his mind in a moment, or is the current attitude of this force slightly different from that in history?
"When Yu thought of people drowning in the world, he thought of them drowning; when Ji thought of people starving in the world, he thought of them starving."

This sentence is from "Mencius: Li Lou Xia" and should be interpreted according to the point of view emphasized by Zhu Xi in his "Collected Annotations": "The heart of a sage is extremely impartial and earnest."

It seems to be persuading the two parties in front to solve the problem with a fair mind. And it also implies that if the world is soaked in water, I am afraid everyone is responsible.

Compared with the idea of ​​"moderation" in the ninth year of Zhengde, it seems that those who could influence the third question were still trying to take the initiative at the end of the seventh year of Zhengde.

So who does this represent and what interests are behind it?

Not like Yang Yiqing.

Pei Yuan became interested and listened more carefully to the candidates' discussions on the questions, trying to dig out the person from the few vague words in the test questions.

But before he could come up with any ideas, a Jinyiwei came to report, "Captain, guests are here."

Pei Yuan came to his senses and quickly stood up.

There were already Jinyiwei outside, leading someone over.

It was Li Shishi who was wearing casual clothes and strolling over to eat.

When Li Shishi saw so many people in the Buddhist hall, he was stunned and thought he had come to the wrong place.

When the candidates saw Pei Yuan stand up to greet them, they realized that an important guest had arrived and they also stood up.

When Li Shishi saw Pei Yuan, he was sure that he had come to the right place. He asked in confusion, "Brother, what are you doing?"

Pei Yuan did not exchange pleasantries with Li Shishi and just pulled him to the table.

Li Shishi took a quick look and with his experience, he instantly knew the identities of these people.

Li Shishi didn't know Pei Yuan's intention, so he didn't know what to say, so he could only sit down with him.

Pei Yuan waved his hand to signal everyone to sit down, and then introduced to everyone, "This is the current Grand Chancellor."

After hearing this, everyone looked at the unprepossessing old man in surprise.

The current Grand Censor, Li Shishi, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, was one of the Seven Ministers of the court and almost the pinnacle of civil servants.

How could they dare to offend those who are about to touch the threshold of officialdom?

Many people looked at each other, not knowing whether to sit or stand.

Fortunately, Pei Yuan spoke in time, and turned back to Li Shishi and said, "These are all my brothers. Please say something so that they won't feel embarrassed."

Li Shishi clearly understood at this moment that these were all Pei Yuan's men.

It’s just that Li Shishi has a deep understanding of Pei Yuan.

He didn't think there was anything wrong with Pei Yuan, a captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, keeping a group of scholars.

This is Pei Yuan!
This is Pei Yuan, who could easily stir up the situation in the imperial court. This is Pei Yuan, who was able to keep hundreds of thousands of imperial troops and the Bazhou army in place for half a month with just one letter.

What's wrong with him accepting a few juren?
What's wrong?!!
Li Shishi said unhappily, "You guys are having dinner together, why did you call me over? You feel cramped now."

In front of so many people, Pei Yuan couldn't explain in too much detail.

All I can say is simply, "Give me some face."

Li Shishi thought about it and felt that Pei Yuan was not the kind of person who would act without purpose. Maybe he had something to discuss this time.

And it might be related to these scholars.

He immediately forced a smile and said to everyone, "Our two families have always been on good terms. There's no need for you to be too formal." As he spoke, he noticed Chen Xinjian, who was sitting at the last seat.

By the way, who is this? The younger brother of the Shandong Commander-in-Chief.

It's worth winning over.

So Li Shishi took the opportunity to approach, pointed at Chen Xinjian, and said to those candidates, "For example, this little brother has also been a guest at my house. Please feel free to be yourself."

Everyone found it a little unbelievable to hear Pei Yuan talking to Li Shishi so casually.

The most noble among the civil servants is the Hanlin Academy, followed by the Censorate and the Ministry of Rites.

Especially the Censorate. As censors, they can not only point fingers at all the civil and military officials in the court from the highest moral point of view, but also, when it comes to promotion, they can rely on the fast track of the censors to rise rapidly.

How could such a noble person be so down-to-earth in front of this captain of the Jinyiwei?
Moreover, is a person who only sits at the bottom of the table qualified to be a guest of honor in the homes of the seven great ministers of the dynasty?
Everyone was originally ignorant and fearless, but now they suddenly felt that the hero brother was a little confused.

Huo Tao and Tian Fu, on the other hand, were relatively calm about this.

Compared to the dead bones like Li Shishi in the tomb, they regarded Pei Yuan as a god.

(End of this chapter)