Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

......

The three great joys in life are meeting an old friend in a foreign land, the wedding night, and passing the imperial examination.

Today is a good day; nearly one hundred people are experiencing one of the greatest joys of their lives.

Some of them even found a husband among the newly appointed scholars, and then discovered that there were fellow townsmen among the new scholars, which was a triple blessing.

They had just returned from meeting the emperor, and their hearts were filled with pride.

His Majesty unusually offered many words of encouragement.

The gist of it is that you are the first group of imperial disciples after my ascension to the throne, and you will all become the backbone of the Great Yan Dynasty in the future.

Now is the time to go to the Ministry of Justice to be appointed to an official post.

"This way, gentlemen."

Young eunuchs were already waiting outside, grinning and clearing the way for them.

The leader was naturally Huang Chao, the newly appointed top scholar.

Huang Chao also felt that he could traverse all the flowers of Chang'an in a single day.

His face showed worry, and his brows were furrowed.

His Majesty just kept him behind and gave him a secret decree, allowing him to execute first and report later.

He was also told that he had five thousand elite soldiers who could assist him in his actions.

The more cautious His Majesty was, the greater the burden on his shoulders felt.

After decades of wasted time, the elation of finally becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination gradually faded.

My heart has already flown to Qingye County.

The group walked along the long street, but as they walked, some people noticed that something was wrong.

This road doesn't lead to the Ministry of Personnel either.

The Ministry of Personnel was located to the east, right next to the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites, but the road the eunuch was leading was clearly heading north.

The street scene ahead grew increasingly deserted, and there were no longer any people wearing official robes to be seen on the roadside.

Only a few Imperial Guards with swords at their sides were leaning against the wall, eating flatbread.

Further on, a drab gatehouse appeared at the end of the street, with a black lacquered plaque hanging above the doorway bearing four large characters.

Northern Garrison Command!

The Northern Garrison Command was notorious for its involvement in imperial prisons, illegal detention and abuse, and torture to extract confessions. Nothing good ever came from anything associated with it.

Some people were so frightened that their legs went weak.

"Sir, have you taken the wrong turn...?"

"Yes, yes, this is it."

The young eunuch chuckled and entered the Northern Garrison Command.

The students had no choice but to follow suit.

Despite the bright sunshine, once inside, I immediately felt a chill run through my body; it felt eerie and like hell.

The passageway of the imperial prison was narrow and long.

The cells on both sides were separated by iron bars.

Every now and then you can see mortals being skinned and having their bones removed.

vomit...

Some students couldn't help it; their stomach acid churned, but they were afraid of being embarrassed, so they forced themselves to swallow it.

At the end of the passageway was the largest cell, with facilities no different from the surrounding area.

There was only one more low table.

Lord Hai Rui was sitting on the floor, writing something with great interest.

"Lord Hai, all the successful candidates in this year's imperial examinations have been brought here and are waiting for your instructions."

Hai Rui then looked up and saw that the area outside the cell was already full of people.

He nodded slightly and clasped his hands in a fist salute to the crowd.

"Please don't be offended, everyone. These are just some of my little hobbies."

"Your official positions have been determined and His Majesty has affixed his seal. Line up and wait for my roll call."

What kind of hobby is this? Upon hearing this, everyone immediately perked up, and the discomfort they had just felt vanished.

They stood ramrod straight, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

Hai Rui came today with a mission.

The idea was to leave these newly appointed officials, the scholars who were about to take office, hanging around here for three days.

Yes, that means going to jail.

His Majesty said that this was inspired by his own eccentric hobby.

Let them experience the horrors of prison in advance.

This serves as a warning: Don't reach out, or you will be caught.

Hai Rui shook his head; this year's students are having a really tough time.

Taking the imperial examination, fighting in battle, being granted an official position, and going to jail—tsk tsk.

Unprecedented and unparalleled.

He shook his head as he looked at the roster in his hand.

Everyone else can wait, but the Huang Dynasty cannot; this is His Majesty's decree.

Huang Chao must take up his post immediately.

"The Yellow Dynasty!"

Hai Rui shouted, and Huang Chao immediately crawled into the cell and bowed deeply in front of him.

"Greetings, Your Excellency."

Hai Rui gestured for him to sit down in the adjacent seat.

"His Majesty values ​​you highly. Qingye County is a fairly large county north of the capital, with powerful and deeply entrenched local clans. What are your plans after you take office?"

Huang Chaogang had been thinking about this question all along, and he could answer it immediately.

"A new broom sweeps clean. The first thing he does is burn the land registers, the second the household registers, and the third the local officials and gentry who don't cooperate. Those who should be arrested are arrested, and those who should be executed are executed."

Hai Rui shook his head.

"Huang Zhuangyuan's three fires were real fires, burning well and burning correctly."

"But your fever spiked too quickly."

Huang Chao frowned slightly:

"Lord Hai, shouldn't we catch them off guard? I'm preparing to leave here and travel light immediately."

Caught off guard?

Hai Rui smiled.

I want to say to young people, passion is a good thing...

But looking at Huang Chao's age... the two brothers are about the same age.

He immediately changed his tune:

"Lord Huang, don't underestimate those gentry families. Believe it or not, Qingye County is probably peaceful and just waiting for you to take office."

"Once you arrive in Kiyono, you need to act out of character and put on a..."

Hai Rui looked him up and down, and Huang Chao immediately understood.

"The despicable face of a man who studies hard for thirty years and becomes an official overnight, extorting money and favors while feigning retreat to advance."

Huang Chao pondered, "Is this telling me to bide my time and feign weakness to the enemy?"

"No, this is entrapment!"

"..."

Huang Chao looked intently at Hai Rui, puzzled, and asked:

"I never imagined that someone as upright as Lord Hai could come up with such a brilliant but terrible idea. Hai Rui has learned a lot."

Hai Rui waved his hand and laughed:

"I can't think of that. His Majesty asked me to tell you, so of course he can't say these things."

"Five thousand soldiers aren't just for show; they're going to fight to the death!"

After seeing Huang Chao off, Hai Rui sat back behind the low table and casually picked up a scroll of "Commentary on the Laws of the Great Yan Dynasty" and opened it.

He leaned against the wall and began to read slowly and deliberately.

The scholars outside the prison stood ramrod straight and waited for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, only to see Hai Rui still turning the pages of his book without looking up.

Finally, someone couldn't hold back any longer.

The young scholar standing at the very front cautiously took half a step forward, cupped his hands, and said:

"Lord Hai, when...when can we receive our official credentials?"

Hai Rui seemed to have just come to his senses, put the book on the table, and slapped his forehead.

"Oh dear, I was so engrossed in my reading that I completely forgot about you all."

He stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards the scholars outside the prison, and spoke with great sincerity.

"However, it is getting late today, so please stay here for the night. I will speak with you all in person tomorrow morning."

"The room is ready, right next to mine."

Do we have to stay overnight?

The students were taken aback, but immediately Imperial Guards came from both sides of the passageway.

He gestured for us to proceed with a blank expression.

"A virtuous person does not seek to be full when eating, nor does he seek comfort when dwelling."

Hai Rui laughed and said, "Besides, it's soundproof and quiet here, and the people inside all have very pleasant voices. We can also learn about the criminal laws of the Great Yan Dynasty. Let's all make do here for the night."

"Yes, sir."

The students looked at each other, but dared not disobey.

Three or four cells were crammed with people.

Although the environment is not good, what is it compared to the hardship of ten years of studying?

Before long, most people were able to accept it as normal.

But as darkness fell, the cell next door began to get lively.

"Confess or not! Spit out every single penny you've embezzled!"

"Put him on the tiger bench! Add two more bricks! Add another! Kill him!"

"Accepting bribes and protecting tax evaders, the amount of which is huge, strip them naked and scald them with boiling water."

"This pipa player has traveled all over the mountain."

All night long, the group of students trembled with fear and gritted their teeth.