The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 53 The Strange Imperial Examination in the th Year of the Wanli Reign

Empress Dowager Li really started to cry, make a fuss, and then threaten to hang herself.

After Concubine Wang Gong moved into the Qianqing Palace, she would come to make trouble every few days.

Unfortunately, it's useless.

Wanli always let the emotionless Shan Sinan take over.

It's no use for her to cry or make a fuss.

Shan Sinan stood at the gate like a statue, not even blinking.

The New Year's Day of the tenth year of Wanli passed in such a lively manner, and was followed by the New Year's Day of the eleventh year of Wanli.

This year is very important to many people because it is the year of the three-yearly joint and palace examinations.

Why do scholars study?
Serving the country, the people and all the people in the world, that's all bluff.

The dream of all scholars in the world is to get their names on the list of successful candidates!

The provincial examination and the palace examination were the only way for them to realize this dream.

Among them, the imperial examination is the key among the keys.

Because passing the imperial examination is basically equivalent to being on the list of successful candidates.

The palace examination determines the ranking of the golden list, and generally speaking, candidates who have passed the joint examination will not be eliminated.

Therefore, the competition in every imperial examination was very fierce.

The competition for the chief examiner of the imperial examination in the officialdom was also quite fierce.

Because the chief examiner can be regarded as the teacher of the students taking the imperial examination.

It was no problem for the chief examiner of the imperial examination to accept hundreds or even thousands of disciples at a time, and these disciples at least had the title of Juren and could enter the officialdom to serve.

Therefore, every time the imperial examination comes, anyone who is qualified to be the chief examiner will compete for it.

So, who is qualified to serve as the chief examiner?
In theory, anyone who is a senior official of the court and above is eligible.

However, under normal circumstances, the chief examiner is the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, and other officials normally cannot compete with the first and second assistant ministers of the Cabinet.

Wanli also wanted to recruit a group of confidants from this year's candidates. Naturally, he did not want his confidants to become disciples of Zhang Siwei or Shen Shixing.

Otherwise, if he asked these cronies to deal with Zhang Siwei or Shen Shixing, it would be a betrayal of his teacher and ancestors.

Nowadays, it is really shameful to betray one's teacher and ancestors. In order to avoid this trouble, he is ready to make trouble again.

Just after the New Year's Day, at about 1:00 a.m. on the 16th day of the first lunar month, the sky was just getting light and the young eunuchs in the palace were still sweeping the snow while breathing out and stamping their feet. He hurriedly brought Li Xuancheng to the imperial study.

Li Xuancheng was a little confused.

Why was he in such a hurry to come to the imperial study so early in the morning and in such a cold weather?
Although there is floor heating in the Qianqing Palace, there is none outside the palace. Moreover, if the snow on the ground is not cleared, it will be like walking on slippery ice.

It was impossible for any official to come to the court for an audience at this time, and it was impossible for the memorial to be delivered so early.

Li Xuancheng was just curious, but Wanli was a little impatient and said, "Uncle, draft an imperial decree and order Yu Youcai, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, to preside over the Guiwei Imperial Examination."

what?
Li Xuancheng was stunned when he heard this.

Will Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing let Yu Youcai serve as the chief examiner of the imperial examination?
This is almost impossible.

However, on the other hand, could Wanli let Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing serve as chief examiners for the imperial examination?
This also seems impossible.

It looks like there will be another fierce competition for the chief examiner of this imperial examination.

In the past, it was the court officials who argued with each other, but this time it was Wanli who argued with the court officials.

Yu Youcai was a coward and didn't even dare to compete with Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing.

Wanli probably wanted to take the initiative and help Yu Youcai seize the position of chief examiner of the imperial examination.

Li Xuancheng was stunned for a moment, then immediately took out a blank imperial edict, knelt in front of a small table beside him and began to write quickly.

Soon, the imperial edict was written.

After Wanli personally affixed the seal, he solemnly said, "Uncle, quickly send someone to deliver it to the cabinet."

How will Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing fight back next?
Wanli sat there, his right hand subconsciously resting on the table, and his fingers moved rhythmically like horse hooves.

This time, no matter how Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing argued, he would let Yu Youcai be the chief examiner of the imperial examination.

If all else fails, then delay it until the seventh or even eighth day of the second lunar month to see who can hold it longer. If Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing still refuse to give up, he will call a court meeting on the ninth day of the second lunar month, saying that the cabinet has not approved his appointment of the chief examiner, and therefore the examination cannot be held as scheduled.

Let’s see who the scholars in the world will scold then.

He was just pondering it secretly when something strange happened.

The cabinet didn't react at all!

Haven’t Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing arrived at the cabinet duty room to take up their posts yet?

This should be unlikely.

The performance evaluation system is very strict now. If you fail to show up for duty at dawn without any reason, it is a serious violation of discipline.

So why didn't the cabinet react? Logically, Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing should have sent back his imperial edict long ago.

He just kept waiting, and waiting, until the morning sun rose vigorously and released great light.

The cabinet finally responded.

Yu Youcai came in person.

This guy actually held the imperial edict in his hands and bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

what?
Does this mean that Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing are not competing for the position of chief examiner?

Wanli was quite surprised and asked, "Bingzhong, why don't they fight?"

Yu Youcai said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Zhang Jiazheng, son of the First Minister Zhang, and Shen Yongmao, son of the Second Minister Shen, are both taking the imperial examination this time. They are doing this to avoid suspicion."

That's what happened.

This time they were lucky, Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing didn't dare to argue for fear of suspicion.

The candidates who come to take the exam all want to get their names on the list of successful candidates. This is a matter of great importance that affects whether they can have a brilliant life. If they see any unfairness, they will make a fuss.

Even the Hongwu Emperor was afraid of the trouble caused by the examination candidates. These young men are desperate when they get sick.

It seems that Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing are also afraid.

Wanli nodded slightly, then asked, "Who did they originally plan to appoint as the chief examiner for the imperial examination?"

Yu Youcai still said respectfully, "Your Majesty, they originally planned to let the newly appointed Minister of Rites, Wang Xijue, be the chief examiner for the imperial examination."

Humph, you still want to transfer it privately like this.

Upon hearing this, Wanli couldn't help but snort inwardly.

It seems that his imperial edict was not issued in vain. At least, with this imperial edict, Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing would not let Wang Xijue serve as the chief examiner of the imperial examination.

After all, Yu Youcai was a cabinet minister, and his qualifications far exceeded Wang Xijue. It made no sense for them to fight for Wang Xijue.

This Wang Xijue, don’t even think about getting the position of deputy chief examiner.

Wanli thought about it carefully, then asked, "Bingzhong, who do you think can be the deputy chief examiner in the Ministry of Rites?"

Yu Youcai thought for a moment, then said carefully, "Your Majesty, I believe that the newly promoted Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Shen Li, can take on this important task.

Shen Li was not partisan and was upright. Gao Gong was his fellow townsman and was his chief examiner, but he did not become his disciple. Huang Jin, also his fellow townsman, once asked someone to bribe Shen Li to do him a favor, but he refused.

This Shen Li is good.

Yu Youcai is really talented.

Yu Youcai could understand everything he said and could always give him a satisfactory answer.

This time he needed someone who was at odds with Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing to serve as deputy examiner. Yu Youcai understood it immediately.

This person is fine except for being timid.

In fact, being cowardly has its advantages. At least no one dares to go against him. This is the candidate for the prime minister in his mind.

He didn't want a bold person to be the chief minister of the cabinet, so being timid was just right.

If Yu Youcai is trained well, he can also be trusted as a close confidant.

Wanli thought about it carefully, then said solemnly: "Bingzhong, I need a group of people with lofty ideals who are truly loyal to the emperor and patriotic. Do you understand?"

Yu Youcai was stunned for a moment when he heard this, then nodded with a look of sudden realization, saying, "I understand."

(End of this chapter)