People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1769 No One Will Mention Emperor Taizong's Lineage Anymore (1/2)

In Liangyi Hall, Li Xuan looked at Di Renjie standing below and nodded calmly, saying, "I am relieved that Di Qing is in Yingzhou. The Turks, Khitans, and Mohe are uneasy, so we need to keep a closer eye on them. In addition, there are agricultural affairs and criminal laws in Youzhou and Jizhou. I grant you the authority to act at your discretion. If there is any problem, you can take over directly."

At the beginning of the year, Di Renjie was appointed as the Surveillance Commissioner of Hebei Province. He knew that things were not that simple.

Now with the four words "act according to convenience", he can take charge of everything in the entire Hebei Province at the critical moment.

Di Renjie bowed solemnly and said, "I accept your order."

Li Xuan nodded gently, turned around and looked at Li Zhizhao standing on the golden steps and said, "I have learned a little about the prince's character these days, so... do you still remember that when Emperor Gaozong was in power, I went to the local area and Emperor Gaozong authorized me to send a letter to the East Palace every three days, telling me about the local affairs?"

"I remember!" Di Renjie cupped his hands and said, "That happened during the time of Prince Zhang Huai."

"Yes!" Li Xuan turned sideways to look at Li Zhizhao and said, "From the time when Zhang Huai became the crown prince to when Zhongzong became the crown prince, I have reported to the crown princes as much as possible about local affairs, detailing the local affairs, why I did so, and what effect it would achieve. I have explained them one by one in detail, Lord Di."

"I'm here!" Di Renjie bowed.

"Now, I will grant you this power. Regarding the administrative affairs in Hebei, you must submit a memorial to the Eastern Palace every five days, detailing the local affairs." Li Xuan looked at Di Renjie seriously. His purpose in doing this was not only to educate the prince, but also to protect Di Renjie.

Di Renjie was the governor of Hebei Province. With his ability, there was no telling how many things he would expose. Li Xuan gave him the power to submit memorials, so it would not be easy for others to impeach him.

Emperor Gaozong protected him in the same way back then.

"I obey your order." Di Renjie bowed solemnly.

Li Xuan waved his hand and said, "Go ahead. Prince, please see Di Qing off on my behalf. If Di Qing has anything to say, please tell him more."

"Yes!" Di Renjie bowed again and said, "I will take my leave. I only wish Your Majesty a long life and a long and stable rule."

"Go ahead." Li Xuan nodded and smiled with relief.

Only then did Di Renjie bow and retreat, and went out of the Suzaku Gate with the prince and headed towards the Chunming Gate!

……

The door was installed and people came.

Han Su, dressed in cloth, glanced at the Suzaku Gate to the west, his eyes slightly lowered. At the age of 27, he still hadn't passed the imperial examination. If this continued...

"Brother Ruisu." A familiar voice came from the side. Han Su turned around and looked to the side. At the same time, Chen Jiong, who was dressed in cloth, pointed to a young scholar in a white brocade robe in front of him and whispered, "See? That man is the son of the current left prime minister, the brother-in-law of the secretary He Zhizhang, and an old friend of your majesty when he was young. He should be the top scorer in this imperial examination."

Han Su nodded slightly and said, "I heard that he had passed the imperial examination last year, but he did not fill in his name, so the final result was invalid. However, the examination paper has been circulated. I have read his answer sheet and it is very insightful. It is said that it is very similar to your majesty's administrative style. If you can learn from it, maybe you will have a chance to pass the examination this time."

"Brother Han, you are not the only smart person." Chen Jiong couldn't help but snickering, then pointed to other places and said, "That person over there is Cui Shi from the Cui family, from Boling; over there are the children of the Yang family, as well as the Wei family, the Zheng family, and the Lu family. There are many people from each family coming to take the imperial examination. This time it will be difficult again."

As Chen Jiong spoke, he couldn't help but sigh.

The Wei family, the Zheng family, the Lu family, the Cui family, and the Yang family, although their family histories were in turmoil due to the unrest, they are still the top families in the Tang Dynasty.

Under the internal and external relations, the space for others is squeezed even more.

"Among the 7749 Jinshi, there must be a place for you and me." Han Su sighed lightly, then stepped forward and walked towards the Imperial Examination Hall in the palace.

Chen Jiong nodded and quickly followed.

The biggest advantage of this imperial examination is that it selected forty-nine people, so they still have plenty of opportunities.

The imperial examination began.

……

At the entrance to the Imperial Examination Hall, Han Su stood at the door with his hands open, and the soldiers from the Qianniu Guard conducted the most rigorous search on him.

At the same time, the official from the Ministry of Personnel on the left looked at Han Su and nodded calmly, saying, "Ask about your origin: Han Su, courtesy name Ruisu, where is your hometown, and who are your ancestors?"

Han Su cupped his hands and said, "Han Su, my native place is Changli, Pingzhou, Hebei. My father Tai was the Sima of Caozhou, and my grandfather Jun was the former governor of Yazhou!"

As soon as Han Su finished speaking, Chen Jiong, who was standing nearby and being checked by other officials, could not help but turn around with a look of surprise on his face.

The official from the Ministry of Personnel took a look at Han Su's portrait on the student register, then compared it with the handwriting he had just written, and finally nodded: "Correct, go in!"

"Yes!" Han Su bowed solemnly, then took his basket and test number and entered the Imperial Examination Hall.

At this moment, Chen Jiong rushed over, grabbed Han Su's arm, and said unhappily, "Han Su, you are so good, your grandfather is obviously a governor of a state, but you are still pretending to be a poor man here with us."

"Our ancestor has passed away for many years." Han Su rolled his eyes at Chen Jiong and said, "If the Han family was not a poor family, how could there be no one who passed the imperial examination in this generation?"

Chen Jiong was slightly stunned. Han Su had already walked far ahead.

Sitting in the examination room, Han Su's expression calmed down.

Looking up and around, it can be seen that the Gongyuan has obviously been renovated this year and there will be no leakage when it rains.

Although the weather in February is still cold, it is not bad.

Han Su's expression calmed down. He remembered that his father once said that this imperial examination would be his best.

The emperor had just ascended the throne and was bound to recruit a large number of people. However, Wei Xuantong, the chief examiner of the imperial examination, was well-known for not preferring to employ people from wealthy families and preferring to employ children from poor families.

There are forty-nine places, and it will be his turn one day.

As for the final ranking, my father said that the emperor has always been pragmatic, and this is also what their Changli Han family is best at.

Han Su's mind finally calmed down a little. Then, despite great disapproval, he asked a question that everyone in the world wanted to ask.

How did officials all over the world view the emperor taking the throne from Taizong's lineage and putting it into their own hands?

Although Li Xuan used countless means to ensure his imperial power and the stability of the world, the nature of his usurpation of power was clearly seen by many people.

How do officials all over the world view such a person and such an emperor? Why are they still willing to serve him?

Han Su remembered that his father was silent for a long time, and finally said four words: "The younger brother will succeed the elder brother."

His father said that Prince Peng and Emperor Gaozong were brothers after all, and even everyone in the court knew that although Emperor Gaozong and Prince Peng were monarch and subject, and brothers, they were more like father and son.

After King Peng ascended the throne, he made it his mission to restore the prosperous era of Emperor Gaozong.

The prosperity is passed on from elder brother to younger brother.

That makes sense.

After all, King Peng was also the grandson of Emperor Gaozu.

The most important thing is that people are really tired of the endless bloody fighting in every generation of Emperor Taizong's lineage. If King Peng can really restore the prosperity of Emperor Gaozong and there is no bloodshed in the succession of the throne, then no one will mention Emperor Taizong's lineage anymore.

Han Su looked at the sky outside and thought to himself, "Perhaps the world will really change if the emperor ascends the throne."

Just at this moment, a series of "dong dong dong" sounds rang out in the Gongyuan.

……

"Knock, knock, knock!" The three-day imperial examination finally ended. Han Su walked out of the Imperial Examination Hall exhausted, then stood under the opposite wall, waiting for Chen Jiong.

At this moment, Lu Xiangxian also walked out of the Imperial Examination Hall. He raised his head, and his eyes fell on Han Su, who was standing against the opposite wall. Although he looked tired, his eyes were bright.

For some reason, Lu Xiang first nodded politely to Han Su.

Han Su was stunned for a moment, then bowed in return.

The two people who would become both enemies and friends in the future completed their first formal meeting and then went their separate ways.

Chen Jiong quickly walked out of the Imperial Examination Hall and walked towards Han Su with a bitter face.

Han Su sighed, then said calmly: "Let's go, let's go back."

"Yeah!" Chen Jiong nodded and followed Han Su out of the palace.

It was not until they returned to Feng'anfang that Chen Jiong said bitterly, "Brother Han, don't you want to ask me how I did on the exam?"

"What's there to ask?" Han Su looked at the busy streets in front of him and said calmly, "Before this year, I participated in four imperial examinations. I thought I was better than others each time, but I failed in the end. I had to try again and again. It's only because Your Majesty is recruiting so many people that I have a glimmer of hope. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come this time."

"But I feel that I don't have enough knowledge. Even if I have another chance, I won't be able to pass the exam." Chen Jiong's face was bitter.

"If you feel that you don't have enough knowledge, go back and study. If three years doesn't work, then five years. There will always be a chance." Han Su looked at Chen Jiong deeply and said, "Even if you go to work as a staff member or a teacher for others, as long as you don't give up, you can still take the imperial examination."

Han Su knew a lot about Chen Jiong. His father was an ordinary Jiexiu magistrate. He was an honest man who always devoted himself to county affairs and was not greedy for personal gain. He had good abilities, but it was difficult for him to be promoted because he had no connections in the court. And because of Chen Jiong's family background, after this imperial examination, he didn't know when he would come to Chang'an next time.

After returning home, he has to support himself.

Being a staff member, teaching others, and accumulating personal connections is more difficult, but as long as you don't give up, there will always be a chance.

"Thank you, Brother Han, for your enlightenment." Chen Jiong smiled bitterly, then bowed and said, "I'm afraid the next few days will be my last time in Chang'an."

"Then study with me." Han Su shook his head and said, "Don't go to Pingkangfang to spend money recklessly. It's better to save the money you have and prepare for the next imperial examination. Besides, you and I will study together. I will never harm you."

"Okay, okay!" Chen Jiong suddenly felt much better. He took two steps and suddenly stopped. He looked at Han Su in disbelief and said, "Brother Han, you are not sure you will pass the imperial examination and are preparing for the palace examination, right?"

"You have some experience, right?" Han Su smiled somewhat implicitly, but then he collapsed: "If you still fail to pass the imperial examination, then I will be more upset than you."

"Ha ha……"

……

In the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed.

On the fifth day of March, Han Su and Chen Jiong entered the palace again.

Today is the day when the imperial examination results are announced. Who lives and who dies, who passes and who fails, will all be decided today.

"I heard that this time in the imperial examination, there will be censors inspecting not only the examination room but also the grading of the papers. Maybe you and I really have a chance." Chen Jiong pulled Han Su and squeezed to the front.

He is no longer thinking about himself, but more about his good friend.

If Han Su really passed the imperial examination, it would be a good thing for him.

"I hope so." Han Su became inexplicably nervous at this time.

At this moment, several officials from the Ministry of Rites came with red paper to post the list.

Suddenly, a commotion came from behind.

"Mr. Lu, Mr. Lu!" A series of respectful calls came from behind. Han Su couldn't help but look back and saw Lu Xiangxian in a snow-white robe.

"Han Su, Han Su." Chen Jiong's ecstatic voice came from behind. Han Su turned around suddenly and heard Chen Jiong grabbing his sleeve and shouting loudly: "Brother Han, Han Ruisu, Han Changli, you passed the exam, you passed, you passed."

Han Su was incredibly ecstatic, his eyes fell on the red paper in front of him. From top to bottom, the first name was his, Han Su.

Then, Han Su's heart couldn't help but sink slightly.

Because this list is not the first one, but the last one. Although Han Su ranks first on this list, she is only eleventh.

There were seven people on the second one and three on the first one, so he was ranked eleventh.

Of course, if he were ranked in this order in the palace examination, he wouldn’t even be qualified to have his name submitted to the emperor.

……

Under the night sky, Li Xuan sat on the imperial couch, looking at the three lists of candidates on the table, and raised his head calmly and said, "In order to prevent gossip, I have decided to cover the names of the candidates for the palace examination. Fifty clerks will be selected from the army to cover the names of the forty-nine candidates. After that, six Zhongshu Sheren and six Jieshi Zhong will copy the list, and the censor will supervise it. Finally, the ministers will make the final evaluation."

"Please step aside." Lu Yuanfang stood up and bowed seriously.

This time his son Lu Xiang took the imperial examination first, so Lu Yuanfang had to avoid it. Moreover, Li Xuan also had a relationship with Lu Yuanfang, so he proposed the method of covering his name.

"Yes!" Li Xuan raised his hand slightly, looked at the ministers and said, "If you have no objection, then let's do this."

"Yes!" All the ministers bowed.

Li Xuan looked at everyone and couldn't help but feel a little relieved.

This time, he used the excuse of Lu Xiangxian and Zhao Qi to conceal their names. Then the next day, continuing to conceal their names became a common practice.

The prime ministers had the least objection to the palace examination being anonymous, because the children of aristocratic families, as well as their sons and nephews, had basically already passed the Jinshi examination, and the only thing left was a matter of ranking.

Except for one or two exceptionally outstanding disciples from poor families who appeared in Li Xuan's eyes, their losses were not great.

With Li Xuan's prestige, this point can still be suppressed.

As for the anonymous examinations in the Imperial Academy, there are much more obstacles.

take it easy.

(End of this chapter)