The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

The palace examination has just passed.

The literary atmosphere is very prosperous in the capital, and many people often visit the teahouses and theaters. In addition, many people have been hanging out at Zhang Zhou's house recently. Their intention is to pay a visit to Zhang Zhou and treat him as their "master".

Of course, this group of people were not allowed to enter at all, and no one even accepted the visiting cards they sent.

The emperor restricted ministers from visiting Zhang Zhou, but it seemed that he could not restrict the scholars of the world, especially those who had just passed the imperial examination and had not yet obtained the title of Jinshi. They seemed to not understand the rules of the court and only knew that Zhang Zhou's mansion was what they longed for.

As for the factional struggles in the court...for most scholars, they don’t understand that at all.

All they knew was that Zhang Zhou was now in power, and that he was also a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy. He was a leader in both academics and military affairs in the Ming Dynasty, so they had no choice but to visit him.

That day, Yang Peng came to visit and gave Zhang Zhou a gift with a smile. However, the gift was not given by him, but was bestowed by the emperor.

"They were all moved from the inner palace. I know you may not need them, but these are the gifts from His Majesty. It would not be good if you don't accept them." Yang Peng personally opened several boxes and introduced these gifts to Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty knows that I don't accept gifts from others, so he wants to give me some compensation."

Yang Peng was startled, then smiled and said, "This is a unique insight."

Zhang Zhou gestured to invite him in and said, "Let's go inside and talk."

Then Zhang Zhou invited Yang Peng into the main hall.

……

……

After the two sat down, Yang Peng expressed his understanding of Zhang Zhou's recent experience.

"Scholars all over the world admire you, and there are always people who come to your house to disturb you or make your travels inconvenient. This matter has been reported to His Majesty. His Majesty said that if it is just some ordinary scholars, there is no need to pay attention to it. Instead, you can publicize it and tell the world that people praise you, sir."

As expected, Yang Peng came prepared.

Whenever something happens, Yang Peng will report it to Zhu Youtang immediately. In this way, he will not be accused of acting on his own.

Zhang Zhou said: "I think so. They are just a few scholars. Even if there are some successful candidates among them, they have not yet entered the court to serve as officials. They know little about the rules."

"But some people are here just to cause trouble." Yang Peng said, "This will also let the people in the East Factory pay attention to see who is deliberately causing trouble and clear away the trouble for you."

Zhang Zhou smiled and asked, "They are just a few scholars. How can they cause any big trouble? There is no need to start a war."

"Yes, yes, everything is up to you. After all, this is your house." Yang Peng agreed with a smile.

Zhang Zhou said, "The palace examination is over, and the results will be posted tomorrow. I have only been in the palace to look at a few papers in the past two days. The main reviewing work is still done by several Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, as well as the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Rites, such as Lin Shangshu. I can't be considered their teacher."

Yang Peng said with a smile: "You may not know, but I don't know who spread the rumor that the examination questions for this palace examination were written by you, so they are praising you so much."

"That's a bit irresponsible." Zhang Zhou said, "The emperor's disciples are the ones who set the questions, how come I am the one who set the questions? Eunuch Yang didn't send anyone to investigate, who is the one who is making random comments behind the scenes?"

Yang Peng smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. We are all here to help you become famous. As long as it is beneficial to you, even if His Majesty knows about it, we will help you. Besides, even if others don't know, how can we not know that you are the one who came up with this question?"

Zhang Zhou saw from Yang Peng's reaction.

Perhaps the leak of this matter had something to do with Yang Peng. Anyway, the emperor didn't care about his reputation now and just hoped that Zhang Zhou could prosper in the Ming Dynasty.

This also explains why so many scholars wanted to visit Zhang Zhou's house, because this was the person who could set the questions for the palace examination on behalf of the emperor, and once the news of the questions was spread, the emperor could allow the news to spread.

This divine grace is not something that ordinary people can compare to.

"Sir, there is one more thing from Binhai City. A few days after you left, Lord Xie fell ill and is now bedridden. He went to see a doctor, and his condition is very serious. It seems that he cannot adapt to the climate there. Do you think we should report this to His Majesty?" Yang Peng asked cautiously.

Zhang Zhou said, "Xie Ge Lao is ill, which is a big deal after all. You should tell His Majesty or not. Why do you need to ask for my opinion?"

Yang Peng said helplessly: "After all, Lord Xie is now a criminal. Although he holds an official position, he is not affiliated with any government office in the court. Your Majesty also asked him to go to Binhai City to redeem himself for his crime. He is now working for you, and this matter still requires your approval."

Zhang Zhou sighed and said, "Mr. Xie is old after all, and it seems that he didn't make any big mistakes. He just took the blame for some people."

"Yes, yes." Yang Peng nodded with a smile.

If we only talk about Xie Qian, then he is of course guilty, but now that he is really guilty, we have to say that he is not guilty, so that Li Dongyang and Liu Jian can be implicated.

"It's necessary to report it." Zhang Zhou said, "If he was just not used to the climate, he wouldn't be so sick that he can't get bedridden, right? Is there some other hidden secret?"

Yang Peng said, "I really don't know about this. No one has explained it in detail. Is he pretending to be sick? It's unlikely. Since you think this matter can be reported to His Majesty, then I will mention it to His Majesty later."

Zhang Zhou waved his hands and said, "Don't say that I suggested you do this. Elder Xie's illness has nothing to do with me. He has always been at odds with me. His affairs basically have nothing to do with me."

……

……

Yang Peng only came to deliver gifts on behalf of the emperor. After the task was completed, Zhang Zhou sent him away.

Zhang Zhou said that he didn't care about Xie Qian's life or death, but he still asked Liu Gui to notify Binhai City and find someone to treat Xie Qian.

He didn't think Xie Qian was faking illness, but Xie Qian's illness was more in his heart... The old man, who was full of vigor and thought he could do anything, had to start from the bottom after arriving in Binhai City, but he was suppressed by others in every way. How could he feel good about it?

It was as if a person's faith was shattered. Less than three months after arriving in Binhai City, he fell seriously ill. This was probably a hurdle in Xie Qian's heart.

If you can't get over it, that's it. Just wait for death.

If he can get by, he may be reborn from the ashes. Of course, if he is reborn, he will no longer be the cunning and mean You Kankan who likes to make things difficult for others, but will become a grassroots worker who gets things done. He will no longer be so arrogant and only think about how to complete factional struggles, but will be more pragmatic, or he may really become a doer.

Then the results of the palace examination were announced.

Zhang Zhou paid very little attention to this palace examination. From the provincial examination to the palace examination, although the questions for the palace examination were set by him on behalf of the emperor, the questions used were still the original questions from history. After going around in a circle, he returned to the starting point and did not innovate on the imperial examination questions.

As for marking the papers, he did not say who to choose and who not to choose. He looked at several papers and had seen papers of grade five. He marked the papers truthfully without favoring anyone.

After all, he didn't intend to choose anyone from his own group for this palace examination, nor did he plan to gain anything from it. Since he had no interests involved, he certainly wouldn't care too much.

But on the day when the palace examination results were announced, Zhu Youtang summoned him to the palace and mentioned the palace examination to him.

"Bingkuan, have you seen the list of announced results?" Zhu Youtang asked.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "I came here in a hurry. I only know that the capital is still in the process of posting the list of candidates. There is an endless stream of people coming to report the good news, but I really didn't pay attention to who won and who didn't."

Zhu Youtang took out a memorial and handed it to Zhang Zhou, saying, "This is a list from the Ministry of Rites. I have also read a few of them. There are talented people among them. See who can be used by you."

Obviously, Zhu Youtang wanted Zhang Zhou to select some people from a group of people who had no party background, use them for his own purposes, and develop them into his own party.

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid you won't be able to understand anything just by reading one article."

"Oh, yes, how about you go over and take a look when the list is announced, and see from their faces and conversation whether there is anyone you can use?" Zhu Youtang became enthusiastic and a little stubborn, as if he would not be satisfied until Zhang Zhou had a few disciples.

Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty, there is really no need to do this."

Zhu Youtang sighed, "I know that this is not in accordance with the rules, but it is the only way. After they enter the court and are infected by certain habits, it may be too late to select people from them."

Zhang Zhou wondered how much his Majesty looked down on those Confucian officials?
Prevent fire, theft and ministers?
Zhu Youtang said again: "In the last imperial examination, besides you, there were several other capable officials. They may not be the second or third place winners. At first, I thought they were insignificant, but in the past three years, thanks to your appreciation and promotion, their achievements have become the backbone of the Ming Dynasty. I can't help but believe it."

Zhang Zhou then realized that the emperor wanted him to choose a disciple because of this relationship.

People like Zhang Zhou, Wang Shouren and Tang Yin, all of them had made great military achievements within three years of entering the court, and became great men who determined the military direction of the Ming Dynasty.

The emperor thought that the palace examination had just ended and the Jinshi had been selected. Since you were not in charge of the joint examination and the palace examination, then after the examinations were over, the task of selecting talents from them would be left to you.

At this time, Zhang Zhou seemed to understand why Zhu Youtang did not let him directly preside over the examination, because there was no need for it.

If all these students were Zhang Zhou's students, there would certainly be some who were just filling in the numbers. But as long as Zhang Zhou selected the ones he thought were useful from the final list of Jinshi, that would be enough.

Zhang Zhou said: "I am not familiar with these new scholars, so it is difficult to select useful talents from them right away."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "Then let's observe first. But there is one thing... Look at this person, are you familiar with him?"

Then he pointed on the list, and Zhang Zhou saw that the person Zhu Youtang was pointing at was Xie Pi, who ranked fourth in the second class, and was Xie Qian's second son.

Because of the emperor's special favor, only Xie Qian's eldest son Xie Zheng followed him to Binhai City to serve in the army, while Xie Pi was not affected and could even continue to take the imperial examinations.

Xie Pi, who should have ranked third in the first class, or Tanhua, in the 18th year of Hongzhi, that is, three years later, relied on his hard work in recent years and family changes to change his fate and passed the imperial examination three years ahead of schedule. Although his result was not among the first class, it was still among the top in the second class.

"He won the provincial examination in Shuntian Prefecture and is now among the Jinshi candidates. He can be considered your disciple. I also heard that Xie Yuqiao is ill in Binhai City. He may be suffering from...unsuitable climate and depression. If he knew that his son passed the Jinshi examination, would he... hehe."

Zhu Youtang smiled.

He did not feel sorry about Xie Qian's illness.

It is very normal for old people to fall ill. Although Xie Qian was his former teacher, Xie Qian had been in charge of the government for so many years and was exiled to Binhai City for a crime. If he should be treated specially for falling ill, then what was the point of punishing him in the first place?
Zhang Zhou said: "I have seen this man before. He is quite talented and not as stubborn as his father. He is considered a leader among the younger generation."

Zhu Youtang asked: "Then do you think he can be used?"

"Your Majesty is saying..."

Zhang Zhou could tell that Zhu Youtang seemed to have a certain prejudice against Xie Pi.

Either use him for my own purposes, or discard him... When it comes to the son of a political enemy, the most important thing is to be tactful. If Zhang Zhou feels that Xie Pi has the influence of his father and may disrupt some rules in the court in the future, then he should be exiled to some unimportant position as soon as possible, so as to prevent him from causing trouble in certain positions in the future.

Zhu Youtang said: "Bingkuan, I know you have good intentions. Even though Xie Yuqiao came to Binhai City, you still took good care of him. But excessive kindness cannot be exchanged for others' gratitude. I am afraid that some people are deliberately targeting you, and even in the future... they will get worse."

Zhang Zhou said: "I don't intend to exchange this for anything."

"Well." Zhu Youtang said, "My idea is that this person should be mentioned specifically. If he can really help you, you can also transfer him to Binhai City and let him assist his father."

After passing the imperial examination and being transferred to Binhai City, there was probably a sense of fattening him up before killing him.

You will be given the opportunity to take the imperial examination, but even if you pass, you will not be given a good job. You cannot become an official in Beijing, and you can only do hard work in the future.

Zhang Zhou said, "Your Majesty, do you really want to tie this man's future to my hands?"

"Haha, Bingkuan, you make the arrangements." Zhu Youtang said, "I don't care about others, but for him, I think you should think carefully. In fact, if Xie Yuqiao can really change his mind in the future... I also know that this possibility is not high, but if he is ambiguous, you control his son in your hands, maybe he can make him make up his mind."

Okay.

The emperor actually instigated his ministers to take other people's children as hostages to threaten the child's father.

Zhang Zhouxin said, you really care about me.

"Since Your Majesty has this intention, I will consider how to use him later." Zhang Zhou said, "If it is feasible, let him observe the government affairs in the Ministry of War first. What do you think?"

"I'll listen to you." Zhu Youtang agreed readily. (End of this chapter)