Manchu traitor, how can you let me be the emperor of the ages

Chapter 176 Li Gan: I, an old horse, don't know where to go, I must get rid of you villain!

When Sima Guang heard Cai Jing's words, he stopped talking, turned around and left.

The registration for the examination started gradually, and he was so busy every day that he would go out for a while, so how could he have the time to spend here with Cai Jing's ink marks?

Unexpectedly, he was really rude. The smile on Cai Jing's face froze slightly, and he hastily stretched out his hand to hold him again: "Sima Butang, come too, I have something to tell you."

Sima Guang was startled, then nodded, "Okay, Mr. Cai."

The two came to Wang Mang's room on duty, and Wang Mang was obviously taken aback when he saw Cai Jing.

"Lord Cai? Please sit down."

"Jujun, I haven't seen you for a long time." In the warm room, Cai Jing took off the mink fur outside, sat on a chair, and looked at Wang Mang with a smile.

Wang Mang, the word Jujun.

The two servants of the Shangshu are the highest officials of the Shangshu Province, and the six ministers are responsible to them, and then these two are responsible to the emperor, and the two servants on the left and right also have a division of labor.

He Shen was in charge of the Ministry of Officials, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Industry, and Cai Jing was in charge of the Ministry of Households, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Punishment.

It's just that He Shen is not in the capital now, so Cai Jing also took care of the other three departments.

Therefore, now Cai Jing is Wang Mang's boss, when the boss directly said that he hadn't seen him for a long time...

That probably meant some questioning.

Haven't come to report to work recently?Are you a busy person?
It's just that Wang Mang didn't seem to understand, and said with a smile: "The end of the year is approaching, and I will try after the next year. I'm a little busy recently."

Cai Jing nodded with a smile: "I came to the Ministry of Rites today because of the examination. The examination is approaching, and it's time to start considering the places of deputy examiners and fellow examiners."

Wang Mang was stunned: "Lord Cai, it's still too early, right? The candidates for deputy examiner and fellow examiner are usually decided after the next year, and now there is almost a month before the end of the year!"

"I don't want to settle now."

Cai Jing shook his head with a smile: "I just want to ask, what ideas and candidates does Jujun have?"

"The candidate..."

Wang Mang pondered for a moment. The candidate for the deputy chief examiner is actually very important. This is a very, very awesome job that makes everyone envious.

After the examination results are released, the No. 1 Huiyuan, No. 3, No. 5... and other odd-ranked candidates are all students of the chief examiner, and the chief examiner must be recognized as the master.

However, No.2, No.4...and so on, candidates with even-numbered rankings are the students of the assistant examiner, and they must recognize the assistant examiner as the seat master.

The relationship between the disciples and the seat master is almost the most stable and strongest relationship in the officialdom. It is almost impossible for the disciples to betray the seat master, and the seat master also relies on many disciples to gain a greater voice.

In the same position, if you have presided over the examination, there is a huge difference in strength between officials with a group of students and officials without students. It is similar to "the staff does not have a leader, and they don't fart loudly." The farts are also not loud enough.

Moreover, under the same conditions, the servants who have disciples are more likely to be promoted to ministers or other positions.

Because there are disciples, you can speak hard, and you can do things better in various places.

But right now, the assistant examiner can share half of the students equally with the chief examiner. This is actually a very advantageous thing. This kind of good thing is related to promotion, wealth, and power. The competition is very fierce every year. .

The servants without disciples were jealous, but the servants with disciples were even more jealous after tasting the sweetness.

So Wang Mang thought about it for a while, and said cautiously: "I really didn't think about it before I stepped down from office. If Mr. Cai has an idea, why don't you tell me?"

Cai Jing chuckled, then turned to look at Sima Guang, "Sima Butang, what do you think?"

Sima Guang was already entangled in trivial matters, and he was in a hurry to get things done, and the choice of the deputy examiner was not something he could decide at the moment.

Therefore, Sima Guang cupped his hands and replied meticulously: "My lord, I think that I can be the deputy examiner of this department myself."

The smile on Cai Jing's face froze, he didn't know how to answer it.

"Junshi, Mr. Cai and I will consider your idea, you go back first." Fortunately, Wang Mang gave him a step.

"Thank you, my lord." Sima Guang cupped his hands contentedly: "Uncle Da Zong, lord Cai, I will take my leave."

After he left, Wang Mang shook his head with a smile and said, "This Junshi is good at everything, but it's too straightforward."

Cai Jing also came back to his senses, as if nothing had happened, and said with a light smile, "It's better to be straightforward, it's better to be straightforward, sometimes the words are too convoluted, and people don't understand."

In any case, he did not comment on Sima Guang's words.

"Master Cai, who do you think is more suitable to be the deputy examiner?" Wang Mang looked at him and asked.

Cai Jing returned to his smiling face again: "Actually, I don't have any suitable candidates, so I came to discuss with Jujun."

He smiled and said: "However, I think that in recent years, the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Etiquette have invigilated the exams a bit too much. In order to be fair, it is time for the other departments to try more."

Wang Mang frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then nodded: "Your Excellency's words are very true, if we continue to take care of the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Rites, the servants of other departments should have complaints."

Cai Jing smiled and nodded: "Which one does Wang Zongbo think is more suitable for the remaining Ministry of Households, Ministry of War, Ministry of Punishment, and Ministry of Industry?"

Wang Mang thought for a moment, but still shook his head: "I don't know, but I think it's best to wait until next year to decide on the candidate for this deputy examiner."

"One is that according to the usual practice, the candidates for the chief examiner are selected at the end of the year. It is not yet the end of the year, and the servants of the various ministries are not prepared. If the news is announced rashly, it will inevitably lead to complaints from the other servants."

The practice of the servants is to visit relationships, give gifts, show loyalty during the Chinese New Year, and wrestle with other competitors by the way.

If you make a decision in advance, people don't even have a chance, so why are you so angry?
Wang Mang glanced at Cai Jing, and then said in a deep voice: "The second is to announce the news in advance. If it spreads to the capital, it will attract the candidates in the capital to wait for an opportunity. If there is another scandal, it will be too ugly. .”

Cai Jing was stunned for a moment when he heard the words, and then nodded his head: "That's what Ju Jun said."

"But I came here this time just to talk to you, and I decided to settle without thinking about it."

"Today's candidates are only known by heaven and earth, and you know me."

Wang Mang's teeth itch in anger, this is because he wants to make an appointment!
But the point is, you don't know who you have taken advantage of, and you want to help him make an appointment, so you just come here and prostitute me for nothing?

Just don't divide at all? ? ?

But Cai Jing is his direct supervisor, and usually in this kind of workplace bullying, subordinates are always in a weak position.

Cai Jing smiled and said, "There are frequent military incidents this year, and the two servants of the Ministry of War are busy handling Wu's war affairs. Naturally, it is not suitable to take on the heavy burden of the examiner."

"The Ministry of Criminal Justice has been battered and busy recently. In addition, they are the direct subordinates of the official. In order to avoid suspicion, they are naturally not suitable to serve as deputy examiners."

This is indeed the case. Cai Jing is the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment. According to the principle of avoiding imperial examinations, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment can no longer be the deputy examiner.

Wang Mang didn't know how to react, so he nodded silently.

Cai Jing smiled when he saw this: "The work of the Ministry of Industry is the most messy, and it has been dispatching craftsmen to help the disaster."

"This winter, we have to build shacks for the victims. Even Zuo Shilang said that he would go to the disaster area in person. This winter, the victims will not be able to do without them."

He sipped the hot tea in the white porcelain cup, and shook his head with emotion: "The only one who can help with it is the Ministry of Household Affairs."

But Wang Mang knew that this analysis seemed reasonable, but it was actually nonsense.

Why can't the Ministry of Industry work?Chun Wei, Chun Wei, will naturally start next spring. You cannot do without them in winter, so what's the matter with spring?
Is there any excuse for the Ministry of War to be busy? Isn't the Ministry of Households busy?
Every Chinese New Year is the busiest time for the household department!
After thinking for a while, Wang Mang did not refute his words, but followed him and said, "Master Cai, do you think Guan Peng, the left servant of the household department, is suitable for the post of deputy examiner?"

He frowned slightly: "It's just that this person has served as a deputy examiner twice, if he is allowed to continue...will it make other people suffer from inequality instead of being too few?"

Cai Jing was startled, as if he just thought of this question.

"That's... what Ju Jun said."

He shook his head and said with emotion: "It's because I didn't think carefully and forgot about this."

"Since Guan Peng is not suitable, why don't Han Mulu, the right servant of the household department, take the top?"

Wang Mang's face turned black: "Lord Cai, should Han Mulu avoid you like the Ministry of Punishment?"

"no, I'm fine."

Cai Jing said with a smile: "I remember it is 'Fanxiang, the examiner of the general examination, the same examiner, the supervisor, the son of Zhigongju, the supervisor, the son of the promotion, and the candidates of the clan. Those who are actually of the same clan need to avoid, and those with the same surname but different clans do not need to avoid. .’ In addition, there are ‘Sister-in-Law, Uncle Weng’ of in-laws that need to be avoided.”

"It's the same between candidates and examiners, and it's the same between examiners."

"My official and Han Shilang have neither the same surname nor Weng's son-in-law, so naturally there is no need to avoid it."

"Besides, I'm upright, and I don't have much personal relationship with Han Shilang, so I won't care about the gossip outside."

Han Mulu's younger sister is Cai Jing's wife, which really just happened to avoid the "son-in-law, uncle-nephew" in the in-law relationship, and got into a loophole in the court system.

Wang Mang was helpless, if the person who said this was a subordinate, he would be able to refute it on the spot.

But now this is what the boss is saying. There is both the "authority" of the boss and the legal "system".

He really couldn't refute it.

Even so, Wang Mang was still making the last effort. He said helplessly, "Lord Cai, if you say you support Han Shilang at such an early age, will it make other people think that this is an appointment? Are you toughening him up?"

"Of course not, there is no such meaning."

Cai Jing waved his hands and explained: "This is a deputy examiner selected according to the law of the imperial court and according to the status quo of the six departments...Of course, the decision-making power of this official and your Ministry of Rites is also very important."

Wang Mang felt helpless: "But Master Cai..."

"Of course!"

Cai Jing said sternly again: "The official came to the Ministry of Rites today, just to discuss with you, Jujun, not to determine the candidate now, nor to appoint Han Shilang as the deputy examiner of the current scientific examination."

"After today, there will be no news about it."

Wang Mang sighed, nodded and said, "I understand."

Cai Jing smiled and nodded: "That's right."

He picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and continued: "Your Majesty, today I am not the boss, but as an elder, I will impart some life experience to you."

"As for the exam, it's best to keep it completely secret. Before the seventh day of February, don't let any news out."

"Being cautious is the way to go."

"Only by adhering to the court's laws can we be safe and sound."

Wang Mang nodded, he had understood the intention of the words.

Cai Jing smiled again and said: "By the way, Jujun, do you think there are any real talents recently?"

"Every time the imperial court conducts a talent ceremony, the Jinshi selected are getting worse and worse."

Wang Mang was disdainful in his heart, but still clasped his hands and said: "Lord Cai, the officials have been busy preparing for the examination in the Ministry of Rites recently, and have not paid much attention to the affairs of the capital."

Cai Jing nodded: "If there are any in the future, you can come and talk to me. This can be regarded as helping the court to adopt good talents!"

Wang Mang nodded: "Yes, Mr. Cai."

The two talked for a while before Cai Jing got up and left.

Before leaving, he turned around and looked at Wang Mang with a smile on his face: "It's still a matter of stability in this test, just prepare slowly, but don't make any troubles."

Wang Mang was taken aback for a moment, then nodded his head.

Cai Jing nodded, picked up the sable fur cloak, turned his head and left.

Amidst the greetings of many small officials, Wang Mang sent him to the door all the way, and then returned to the guard room, thinking thoughtfully of Cai Jing's last words.

Don't make any more incidents...

These words are probably the meaning of his visit today.

This means that if someone else comes again and seeks the position of deputy examiner, don't agree to it.

The benefits are all Cai Jing's, but he pushed him, the Minister of Rites, to reject people, offend people, and only gave him a few Jinshi places...

A minister of the Ministry of Rites, I am short of your three melons and two dates?
It was the first time for Wang Mang to deal with Cai Jing in such an in-depth manner. He thought that Mr. Cai Jing must be a very open-minded person with so many followers and influences.

But why are you so picky now?

Wang Mang thought for a moment, then shook his head slightly.

No matter what, this kind of loss-making business cannot be done.

But Cai Jing is the boss, and the subordinates and the boss fight against each other, and there is always no good result... unless some stronger power can be borrowed.

Subconsciously, Wang Mang looked up to the north.

The gates of the buildings in the Imperial City and the Palace City all open to the south, but the ministers who work in these buildings all sit facing the north, at most they sit facing the east or west, but there is no one who sits facing the south.

Only the emperor's dragon chair and the chairs in the emperor's palace face south.

The so-called south is called an orphan, and the north is called a minister, that is the case.

Wang Mang has always been very cautious in this kind of thing, and has always followed the etiquette. All the chairs in the room of the Ministry of Rituals face the south or the north.

He stood up, thought for a while and put a book under his arm, and then he strode out of the guard room, walked out of the yamen of the Ministry of Rites, and headed for Miyagi in the north.

The cold wind blowing on the road made the iron beard under Wang Mang's jaw, which was like steel wire, shake slightly.

He walked like a tiger, not caring about the cold wind, and arrived in front of the palace gate in a short while.

"Wang Zongbo, you're here." The eunuch guarding the gate was dressed in a green robe with a cotton padded jacket underneath. I have reserved a single room for you to rest, do you want to have a cup of hot tea to warm up before going over?"

"Thank you, no need." Wang Mang shook his head, then walked past the eunuch and walked into the palace...

Ziwei Hall, Dongnuan Pavilion.

At the beginning of the dynasty, when Emperor Taizu built Ziwei Hall, he didn't think about heating in winter. At that time, Emperor Daqian only needed to light a warm cage in winter and deal with it casually.

But when reviewing memorials, it is always inevitable to have cold hands and feet.

Later, during the reign of Emperor Ruizong, the Ziwei Hall in winter was caught in a fire due to improper heating, and all of them were burned down.

When the Ziwei Hall was rebuilt, there were skilled craftsmen who combined the kangs of common people's homes and the flue ducts of rich households, and set up similar things, namely the east and west warm pavilions, which were deeply loved by Emperor Ruizong.

Its principle is similar to that of Li Qian's previous life's floor heating, except that there is no electric floor heating or water floor heating in Dagan, and they are all "flue ducts" and "earth dragons" like kangs, but they are also very warm when burned.

The weather was getting colder a few days ago, and it was no problem for Li Gan to endure it, but if he couldn't live with the floor heating, he would suffer a little bit if he struggled here.

And he could stand it, and neither could Wu Meiniang and Lu Zhi, so Li Qian moved the place where he usually wrote memorials to Dongnuange.

The small study here is a little cramped compared to the Zhengshi Hall of the Ziwei Palace, but this is also understandable. The large space dissipates heat quickly, so it is not as warm as the small space.

Dongnuange, a small study.

The door was closed, only the window was opened a small crack, allowing fresh air to come in constantly.

The slightly dim light reflects the thick red pillars in the house, the painted carved beams, the dim copper stove with cranes, and the rows of voluminous books on the bookshelves.

There was no carbon fire in the copper stove, but the temperature in the small study was already very high.

Sitting here wearing only an underwear, Li Qian was even a little hot.

But Wu Meiniang and Lu Zhi beside him felt cold all the time for some reason, and habitually clung to Li Qian's side to keep warm.

With two warm and soft bodies leaning against the left and right sides, Li Qian suppressed his distracted thoughts and devoted all his energy to the memorial...

In fact, Li Gan's efforts have had some effect, but how big the effect is... It's hard to say.

bang bang~
Following the knock on the door, the old eunuch's voice came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, Minister of Rites, Wang Mang, please see me."

Li Gan raised his head, Wu Meiniang and Lu Zhi also hurriedly got up, sorting out their messy clothes, their charming or pure eyes were slightly wet, and their fair and tender faces were as red as ripe peaches... Of course, this is It's so hot, I'm almost crying.

It should be normal to sit in the floor heating room every day, get angry, and have a red face, right?

"Your Majesty, I will go to the side first." The two women stood up blushing, and walked towards the side door.

Li Qian also packed his clothes, and then said to the outside: "Come in."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The old eunuch replied, turning around and leaving.

Li Gan was a little helpless: "Big Companion, I mean to let you in."

"Ah?" The old eunuch was taken aback for a moment, then hastily turned and pushed open the door of the small study, leaned halfway in, and asked tentatively, "Your Majesty?"

"How did Wang Mang get here?"

"Return to Your Majesty, he came here with a book, the same as when he came to His Majesty to explain the scriptures."

The old eunuch bowed and replied: "But you guys just saw that Cai Jing went to the yamen of the Ministry of Rites and sat in Wang Mang's office for a while, so he must have left now."

Li Gan drank a sip of warm tea to relieve his dry mouth.

"Please come in."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The old eunuch answered, turned around and walked out hastily.

While tidying up the desktop, Li Gan was thinking about what the old eunuch said.

Cai Jing went to Wang Mang, what did he say?Wang Mang turned around and came to look for him?
Cai Jing...Wang Mang...

Wang Mang is the minister of the Ministry of Rites. When Li Gan thought of the Ministry of Rites, he subconsciously connected it with the recent popular examination.

Could it be that Cai Jing is doing it for the test?Or will not try?
What is he going to do on his own initiative?
While thinking about it, the eunuch who came in from the door refilled the teacup, and Li Qian picked it up and poured it down again. Well, this place is a bit hot... It's hot, drink more water and suppress the fire.

There was a sound of footsteps from outside the study, and the door was opened with a creak.

"My subject, Wang Mang, see Your Majesty."

"Sit, Wang Zongbo."

Li Gan smiled and pointed at the soft stool in the study, and said to the eunuch, "Bring tea to Wang Zongbo."

"Yes, Your Majesty." After the little eunuch finished making tea, he obediently went out and closed the door behind him.

Li Qian watched Wang Mang sit down with a smile like this, and then said: "Wang Zongbo, are you here to tell me about ancient rituals again today?"

Wang Mang smiled: "Your Majesty, today's minister is not here to talk about ancient etiquette, but to ask about the examination."

"Would you like to try?" Li Qian was interested, but his face remained calm: "Wang Zongbo, please tell me."

Wang Mang nodded, and continued: "Your Majesty, I think it's time to decide on candidates for the chief examiner, deputy examiner, and many fellow examiners."

"Is it settled now?"

Li Gan pretended to be surprised: "Wang Zongbo, why are you in such a hurry?"

"It's better to let the examiners spend the New Year outside first, what do you think?"

Wang Mang got stuck, and almost failed to keep up with his brain circuit.

"Your Majesty, the candidate for the examiner is decided now, not to be announced immediately."

He had to explain: "It will be decided now, and it will be announced in early February as usual."

Dagan's imperial examination regulations are still very strict. The imperial court will announce the list of examiners to the candidates in the capital through the Ministry of Rites more than a month before the start of the examination.

But don't think about cheating or anything, the announcement of the list is not for you to gain profits.

At the same time as the list was announced, all the examiners would be locked up and locked up in the Gongyuan. Special personnel would deliver meals, and they were not allowed to have any contact with outsiders.

The reason why the list of examiners is released is not superfluous, but because even if it is not released, people can see who the examiners are by looking at which officials are missing in the city.

Rather than that, it might as well be a little more atmospheric.

After listening to Wang Mang's words, Li Qian frowned slightly: "Why did the matter in early February be decided so early? What if the news gets out and the candidates scramble to find a job?"

"This……"

Wang Mang seemed to be stopped by the question, he hesitated for a moment before saying: "Return to Your Majesty, in fact, I don't know why this is the case."

"It's just that Mr. Cai Jingcai came to the Ministry of Rites suddenly today, and said that he should ask the minister first..."

In the small study room, Wang Mang, the green tea boy, put a pot on Cai Jing's head in a serious and unaware manner with a different tone.

"I think Mr. Cai's words are safe."

He said with emotion: "Your Majesty, it's better to make a decision as soon as possible before the end of the year, than to rush after the end of the year."

"I see……"

Li Gan narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded slightly.

Cai Jing, that bastard, certainly didn't hold back any good farts.

Just now Bao Zheng swept away the face of his servants in the guild hall, he turned his head and went to the palace to talk about the test, if it is not revenge, who would believe it? ?
Anyway, Li Gan didn't believe it.

"Does Cai Qing's family have any recommended candidates for the examiner?"

Li Qian looked at Wang Mang, with a sneer on his face: "He is so far-sighted, he must have some plans, right?"

Wang Mang frowned, His Majesty's words were already a bit heavy.

But he thought for a while, and replied: "Master Cai didn't have any candidates to recommend, but he and his ministers analyzed the situation of the six departments, and found that only the servant of the household department is suitable for the post of deputy examiner."

"En." Li Gan nodded, and the expression on his face returned to calm, as if the sneer just now was just an illusion: "Who is from the household department? Is it the right servant of the household department, Han Mulu?"

"Your Majesty sees thousands of miles away."

Wang Mang sighed with emotion, and then said: "However, I think that Mr. Cai may just say it casually, and he didn't mean to force a default decision."

"Ah."

Li Gan nodded again: "I also thought that Cai Qing's family would not do such foolish things that violate the court's laws and practice favoritism."

He will not be blamed.

Li Qian felt that Cai Jing replaced the deputy examiner with his own people, mostly to control the test.

And as far as he knew, Cai Jingguang had invited quite a few applicants in recent days, and most of them had gone to the Cai Mansion, and it was said that they had a "very happy conversation" with Mr. Cai.

But there was a small group of people who still ignored his invitation.

Today, Bao Zheng's behavior is very bad, this attitude of ignoring may have touched Cai Jing's bottom line.

The challenged lion king must respond to all provocations with great strength!
If you don’t clean up your surname Bao today, tomorrow the next one surnamed Liu and Wang will jump out and repeat the path taken by this surname Bao!
Don't give you some color to see, do you really think that the boss is your second child?
According to Cai Jing's preparations today, there is no need to wait for the exam to be released. As soon as the list of examiners comes out in early February, let's take a look. Chief examiner Cai Jing and deputy examiner Han Mulu!
This powerful lineup will shock all candidates at once!Shock everyone who dares to challenge his majesty Cai Jing!

I am in charge of proctoring and grading papers, so what test do you take?
Still taking the exam?You go home and roast duck!

It's just that Cai Jing has this idea, and Li Gan has the same idea.

If you don't give your surname Cai some color, do you really think that the boss is your second child?
Li Gan's face was not very good-looking, inexplicably, he thought of a sentence: I am an old horse who has no way to return, I must get rid of you, a villain.

(End of this chapter)