Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 68: An Unusual College Examination (th update, please subscribe first!)
June twenty.

The Guangdong Academy Examination was held.

After three gong strikes at the hour of Yin, Hai Yue, Hai Rui and Lin Daqin entered the examination room among the crowd.

Two thousand young students filed into the Dragon Gate.

Theoretically, the imperial examinations in the Ming Dynasty were divided into four levels: the academy examination, the provincial examination, the metropolitan examination, and the palace examination.

The academy examination here includes the first three preliminary examinations from local to provincial capitals. After passing all the examinations, one becomes a student, also called a "scholar".

Later generations spoke of poor scholars with contempt, but in reality, once one achieved this title, they would be exempt from corvée labor, bow to officials instead of kneeling, be exempt from torture, and be able to redeem themselves with money in case of common crimes. They could travel in sedan chairs and were exempt from travel permits.

In addition to the above privileges, scholars are also fully qualified to become teachers in private schools or become officials' staff and advisors, with an annual income of dozens of taels of silver, which is a comfortable income.

It can be said that only when one has reached this level of study can one completely separate oneself from ordinary people and no longer be a poor scholar. As long as one does not continue to study blindly and seeks a stable life with one's feet on the ground, even if one cannot become rich and powerful, it is completely possible to live a worry-free life.

Of course, it is not easy to pass the exam for a scholar. "Tongsheng" sounds like "boy", but in fact, many people have participated in the examination more than ten times but never passed. In this subject, you can also see old Tongshengs in their fifties or sixties, trembling as they walk towards their rooms, determined to obtain the title of student and realize their life vision.

For this group of people, the person who can most determine their fate is naturally the provincial education commissioner.

So, when Wang Shifang stepped into the examination room, the students subconsciously straightened their chests, straightened their backs, and put on their best posture.

However, he did not notice that the inspector had a sullen face and walked quickly past the desks, as if he was looking for someone.

Finally, this provincial official stood in front of a candidate, stopped moving, and stared at the other person blankly.

The students around him immediately showed envy.

However, Wang Shifang stared at Hai Yue in front of him without concealing the resentment in his eyes.

He didn't know about it beforehand and thought Haiyue was an insider who betrayed the party and leaked key information.

But when the three groups of people each took the bait and were all caught by the Jinyiwei, how could they not know that they had fallen into a trap?

Wang Shifang was particularly angry.

He had an inherent contempt for the Lingnan area, but because his father-in-law had lost power and offended the current emperor, he had no choice but to humble himself and come here to live. However, he was completely fooled by a local 17-year-old boy. He had been furious every day these days, just waiting for this day.

Haiyue, however, did not look away, her attention completely focused on the test paper in front of her.

Wang Shifang saw that trying to kill you with his eyes had no effect, so he simply reached out his hand slowly and grabbed the answer sheet.

Haiyue paused her pen, slowly raised her head, and finally looked at the other person.

The sudden sharpness made the inspector feel a stabbing pain in his back.

I'll give you a look and you can experience it yourself!
Wang Shifang's heart trembled.

"This boy was born in Qionghai, a wild and barbaric land. Could he dare to attack me?"

If it were someone else, they wouldn't even have this idea. Aren't they just students, and they are still being manipulated by the officials?

But it is hard to say what about those people in Hainan who fight with the people.

This boy has a tall and strong appearance, and he can collude with the Jinyiwei. He is not afraid to turn against his superiors in his hometown. It is really hard to say what he dares to do.

Wang Shifang withdrew his hand angrily.

But it's not over yet.

Haiyue still followed her own pace. After finishing the paper, she checked it again to make sure there were no problems with the taboos, and then handed it in.

Wang Shifang couldn't wait to pick up the test paper and start looking at it.

As he watched, his brows relaxed and he snorted contemptuously.

He was born into the Wang family of Taicang, which was famous for its elegant clothes, poetry and literature. In the 16th year of Zhengde, he was admitted as a second-class Jinshi, and his ranking was very high. In addition, he was handsome and suave, so he was chosen by Mao Cheng and became the son-in-law of the Minister of Rites.

In terms of talent, Wang Shifang was also well-known in the literati circle, and his level was definitely top-notch in the world.

The current eight-part essay format of the imperial examination is indeed inevitably empty, but it is precisely under this format that a person's true talent can be tested. The articles that win the first place in each subject are circulated and are admired by countless students.

Haiyue's essay was quite neat and showed some talent. Considering his seventeen-year-old age, it was quite good and worthy of the title of child prodigy. However, in the entire college examination, he could only be ranked in the top ten at best.

"First in the county, first in the court, first in two exams, is this the level?"

"Ha! As expected, under my gaze, you appear calm, but are you really acting out of control?"

"Or perhaps you, my boy, have realized that you can't win the Little Three Prize? Are you trying to fool me with this mediocre but harmless article?"

Wang Shifang was disdainful at first, and then began to nitpick.

Unfortunately, I watched it three times and didn't find any taboos. I can't dismiss it after all...

In any case, when Wang Shifang thought about Haiyue winning the first place in the county and prefectural cases, he must have had some ideas about winning the first place in the court case. But now there is no hope anymore. He felt very relieved and even had evil thoughts.

Forget about being first, this time you will get last place, and you will be criticized in the future, and it will become a stain that can never be erased!

Haiyue saw the other party's smug look, shook her head silently, turned around and walked out of the examination room.

After leaving the dragon gate, turn around.

The heat waves rising from the bluestone ground distorted the four golden characters "天下文明" (civilization of the world) on the plaque of the Imperial Examination Hall.

"The world is civilized... The world is civilized..." Three imperial examination preliminaries.

Before the county examination, he solved the murder case of Prince Annan, for which he was appreciated by the county magistrate Wu Kexhuang and was selected as the top case solver in the county.

Before the provincial examination, he solved the blood totem case and rescued the inspector Wu Lin, for which he was flattered by the prefect Gu Shanjie and was selected as the first in the provincial examination.

Everyone knows their own business. Even if he memorized a lot of traditional Chinese literature and calligraphy for the exam and was able to use it for his own benefit, his level in the first two games was actually not enough to take the lead. Off-field factors cannot be ignored.

On the contrary, before the third college entrance examination, he made considerable progress because he was preparing for the entrance examination with the future top scholar Lin Daqin, and his level was much higher than the previous two.

Of course, the other students taking the college entrance examination are more capable, so it is more difficult for them to come out on top. However, Haiyue estimated that under normal circumstances, it should be no problem to get into the top 30.

Unfortunately, before the college entrance examination, he "solved" the case of Yinwu Village, which had greatly offended the masters of the Sansi Yamen, and the Supervisor of Education Wang Shifang did not hide his hatred.

So in the last game, even though the level is the strongest, the result will probably be the worst.

"Ah!"

Haiyue smiled, and for a moment she didn't know whether she was mocking herself or feeling relieved.

Lu Bing's voice came from behind: "What's the matter? Didn't you perform well? You won't... fail the exam, will you?"

"That's not the case!"

Hai Yue said unhappily, "I was the top judge in the first two rounds. As long as I don't make any mistakes regarding taboos, even Wang Shifang can't dethrone me. However, humiliation is inevitable. After all, this person has committed numerous serious crimes in Zhou Neitai's records. The Hepu Civil Reform is inextricably linked to him, yet he is still the Superintendent of Education!"

Lu Bing said in a deep voice, "He will be transferred out of Guangdong soon, and he won't even be able to hold the position of Superintendent of Education anymore!"

Hai Yue said: "But he won't be dismissed and will still be in office, right?"

Lu Bing sighed.

Mao Cheng died early, and Yang Tinghe also passed away last year. After their death, they did not even have a posthumous title and were buried as commoners. For a veteran minister of four dynasties and the prime minister of two dynasties, this was a great humiliation and caused a lot of criticism from both the court and the public.

The reason why the new nobles of the Grand Etiquette were new nobles was that their number was ultimately a minority, and most court officials still stood on Yang Tinghe's side or sympathized with this side. If Wang Shifang was arrested at this time, even if he deserved it, the stimulation to other officials had to be considered.

By the same token, the Provincial Administration Commissioner's Office and the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office were related to the stability of Guangdong Province. The Jinyiwei did not arrest them in the end and withdrew early, only taking away a group of evil clerks.

Of course, it is impossible for the matter to be left unresolved at this point, and no official will be severely punished.

Hai Yue looked at Lu Bing's slightly evasive gaze and asked in a deep voice, "Who will be imprisoned and sent to the capital?"

Lu Bing looked away, lowered his head, and after a moment said in a muffled voice: "Zhou Xuan..."

"Ah!"

Haiyue's laughter this time was full of sarcasm.

With their backers, Wang Shifang and Tian Jiading landed safely.

Zhou Xuan, the censor who had no backing, had clearly provided a list to remedy the situation and had made some contributions, but he was still imprisoned and sent to the capital.

What’s going on? I haven’t even finished writing Journey to the West yet, and this setting where monsters with backgrounds are taken away and monsters without backgrounds are beaten to death has become popular?

Or, has there been no change?
Lu Bing was clearly indignant. Young people simply couldn't stand this state of affairs. Even though he'd been influenced by the Jinyiwei elders since childhood, and had accepted the most politically sound decisions, he was still fuming. He patted Haiyue on the shoulder and said, "Come with me to the capital! Study at the Imperial College! If you stay here, the next superintendent will make things difficult for you. But if you achieve something in the capital, they'll fawn over you and flatter you to the utmost!"

"it is good!"

Hai Yue nodded without hesitation and said, "I have two friends who are as talented as me. If they are willing, can they go to the capital with me?"

"Your brother Hai Rui and Lin Daqin from Chaozhou Prefecture?"

Lu Bing already understood and became happy: "Of course! With you all here with me, this trip south won't be in vain! Haha!"

Putting aside his worries, he finally smiled after a long time.

Haiyue also smiled, turned around and took a last look at the Gongyuan plaque, which symbolized the heavenly literary fortune and the utmost fairness and justice, with an unfathomable look in her eyes.

This case is actually not over yet.

Everyone seemed to agree that Fang Wei was murdered to silence him, but even if it was murder to silence him, who was the murderer?
Everyone is focused on the corruption and sheltering crime caused by Gongzhu, and is concerned about the ups and downs in officialdom. No one cares about this murder case!
As for the truth behind the Hepu uprising...

The character of Lingshan County Magistrate Zong Chengxue...

No one in the court will pay attention to it.

But maybe.

There are also some among the people.

The legend of Hidden Mist Village comes from the city.

Nightmare Town is a rumor.

But it contains people's most simple values.

The law of cause and effect, good and evil will be rewarded!
"You chose it! Don't regret it!"

Haiyue said the last words and strode away without looking back.

(End of this chapter)