The days when I ransacked the house in Jinyiwei

Chapter 327 The Three-Year Examination of Zhengde
  Di Bao was issued by the General Affairs Department to court officials.

Chang Feng is now just a civil servant with no official or position. But he can read the newspaper from the Secretary of General Affairs to Chang Ponu at home.

On this day, he saw in the study that "the imperial court opened military positions and received silver to compensate officials to atone for their sins, and received silver to confer prisons, and received silver to confer Buddhist and Taoist ultimatums."

Chang Feng blurted out: "Liu Jin, stupid! Stupid! Stupid!"

Chang Ponu heard the sound and walked into the study: "Dad, what's wrong?"

Chang Feng pointed out the paragraph in the newspaper to Chang Ponu: "What do you think this is?"

Chang Ponu sighed after looking at it: "Oh, I knew about this yesterday. I was afraid that you would be angry, so I didn't dare to tell you."

Chang Feng said: "Liu Jin is doing nonsense! If only he has Wang Zhi's ability, that's all. But he can't even catch up with Shang Ming!"

"Selling an official position and spending money to atone for one's sins is what Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty and Shi Changshi did! The Ming army will be rotten to the core! The Imperial College will be rotten to the core!"

"Also, can Buddhist and Taoist ultimatums be sold casually? I'm afraid everyone will buy one of those magic sticks among the people who deceive people of their money by pretending to be gods and ghosts!"

Chang Ponu said: "Father, there is no way! Even Zhang Cai and Zhang Butang can't persuade Eunuch Liu about this matter."

"In the court today, if Zhang Cai can't persuade him to do something, no one can stop him."

"There's nothing my old Taishan can do."

Chang Feng sighed: "Alas, if Liu Jin is not eliminated, the Ming Dynasty will surely perish."

Chang Ponu said: "I'm afraid that Liu Jin will be defeated in the future, and my uncle and I will also be implicated."

Chang Feng said: "Don't worry. If I can't protect you two by then, I will be called 'Chang Butcher' in vain."

At this moment, Li Dongyang came to Chang Mansion.

Chang Feng met his in-laws in the hall after more than a year's absence.

The first thing Chang Feng said when he saw Li Dongyang was: "When will Liu Jin be eliminated?"

Li Dongyang replied: "It's not the time yet. The key to getting rid of Liu Jin is not to find how much evidence of his illegal activities. It is whether the emperor has lost trust in him."

"For the time being, the emperor trusts him. The emperor uses him as a tool to suppress us civil servants."

Li Dongyang’s words hit the mark. The reason why Emperor Zhengde indulged Liu Jin so much was to prevent the situation of checking and balancing the imperial power from reappearing in the later period of the Hongzhi Dynasty, when the civil servants were too strong.

Chang Feng said: "Then let him do whatever he wants?"

Li Dongyang sighed: "Whoever is against him at this time is trying to kill a stone with an egg. That includes me, the chief minister of the cabinet!"

"You should prepare well for the exam first, strive for nomination for the general exam, rejoin the official position and return to the court, and then make plans later."

"Oh, by the way. The chief examiner of the Undergraduate Examination has already appointed the cabinet member Wang Hao. Although I have a good relationship with Wang Hao, this person is very upright and will never reveal the examination questions to me."

Chang Feng said: "I don't bother to pry into the exam questions and the gold list in advance. If so, I will look down on myself."

Li Dongyang said casually: "Yang Tinghe's eldest son Yang Shen will also take part in the examination this year. Alas, Yang Tinghe still can't calm down. At the critical moment when he entered the cabinet, he repeatedly angered Liu Jin."

"Liu Jin has been quite dissatisfied with him recently."

Chang Feng was stunned: "Yang Tinghe is a smart man and will not do stupid things."

An idea came to his mind: Is Yang Tinghe imitating me? I want to draw a clear line with Liu Jin by offending Liu Jin. To avoid being implicated in Liu Jin’s defeat in the future?
  Li Dongyang added: "Actually, you can ask Queen Xia to blow off some steam and return to the factory guard. The inner factory, the west factory, and the Jinyiwei have all been made into one by Liu Jin. But the east factory is still under the control of Eunuch Zhang."

Chang Feng nodded slightly: "That's what I meant. But let's wait until the exam is over before we talk about it."

There's still half a month until the exam.

Sharpening a gun in the face of battle will bring displeasure. He spent every day in his study, studying craftsmanship and preparing for exams.

At night, he didn't even go to sleep in Liu Xiaoyan or Madam Ninth's bedroom.

Of course, at the age of forty-three, he is no longer very good. Even if the two ladies lie beside him, he can only look at the ocean and sigh: a young man doesn't know how valuable essence and blood are, but when he comes to see his wife in old age, he sheds tears in vain.

Besides Yang Tinghe's eldest son Yang Shen, there was also Jiao Fang's eldest son Jiao Huangzhong who participated in the undergraduate examination with Chang Feng.

Jiao Mansion.

Jiao Huangzhong was listening to Yangzhou Skinny Horse play the flute in the back garden.

Jiao Fang entered the back garden at some point. He scolded his precious son: "The trial will take place in seven days. Why aren't you doing your job properly?"

Zhuo Huangzhong smiled and said: "Anyway, Dad has a way to get me nominated on the apricot list and consecutively in the imperial examination. Why should I be in such a hurry?"

Jiao Fang scolded: "That's nonsense. If outsiders listen to it, they'll think I want to help you cheat!"

Jiao Huangzhong smiled and said: "Even if my son doesn't say so, others will think so. Dad, you are now the most capable person under Eunuch Liu. So what if I cheated? Who dares to expose it?"

Jiao Fang glared at Jiao Huangzhong and stopped talking.

At the same time, Yang Tinghe's mansion.

Opposite Yang Tinghe stood his eldest son Yang Shen.

Yang Shen was twenty years old.

The Yang family's genes are very strong. Yang Tinghe was known as a child prodigy since he was a child. The same goes for Yang Shen.

Yang Shen could recite more than [-] Tang poems and Song lyrics at the age of seven. The modern poetry he composed when he was eleven years old puts even old scholars to shame. At the age of thirteen, he had already obtained the title of scholar.

Last year, he returned to his ancestral home in Sichuan to take part in the provincial examination. Sichuan Academician Liu Bing reviewed his examination paper as if he had obtained a treasure.

Liu Xuezheng commented: "I can't be Ouyang Xiu. But I got a student like Su Shi!"

The provincial examination results were released, and Yang Shen ranked first in Sichuan's ranking.

Yang Tinghe looked at the eight-legged essay written by his eldest son and praised it: "Well, it's very good! With your current craftsmanship, you should be able to enter the apricot list in the exam, as long as there are no accidents."

Yang Shen said, "If you are on the Apricot Ranking and then on the Gold Ranking, what's the use of being awarded an official position? The powerful officials are in power, and officials can't tell the truth and can't do good things. They can only be a yes-man."

Yang Tinghe was stunned. What his son said made sense and he couldn't refute it.

After a moment of silence, Yang Tinghe told his son: "Chang Feng is an old friend of mine. In the early years of Hongzhi, I lived life and death with him in the southeast, and killed Japanese pirates side by side."

"Before the examination, it is common practice to discuss craftsmanship with imperial examination candidates. You go to his house tomorrow."

Yang Shen nodded: "A year ago, Mr. Chang dared to denounce Liu Jin as the most powerful eunuch and the most treacherous person in the court in front of all the civil and military officials during the morning court. He is an upright person. I have long wanted to make friends with him. "

Yang Tinghe lowered his voice: "When you see Mr. Chang, tell him something. Come here."

The next day, Chang Feng was studying in the study. The servant reported: "Yang Ting and Yang Shen, the eldest son of the Yang family, want to see you."

Chang Feng said: "Please come quickly."

Not long after, Yang Shen was brought to Chang Feng by his servants.

Chang Feng saw that Yang Shen had a dignified appearance and looked like Yang Tinghe when he was young.

Yang Shen cupped his hands and said, "Uncle Shi."

Chang Feng smiled and said: "Good nephew. I heard before that you and I will enter the Gongyuan together this time."

Yang Shen said: "This is my unannounced visit. My nephew brought a few craft articles to discuss with Uncle Shi. Uncle Shi is a senior in the examination room, so don't blame my nephew for being a master of the arts."

Chang Feng said: "What a senior in the examination room! He is just a veteran who failed in five subjects in a row."

Yang Shen suddenly lowered his voice: "My father asked me to tell Uncle Shi something."

Chang Feng asked, "Oh? What did you say?"

Yang Shen said: "My father said that he is learning from you!"

Chang Feng understood. If it was as he suspected, Yang Tinghe deliberately provoked Liu Jin in order to get Liu Jin to punish him. In this way, he can draw a clear line between him and Liu Jin.

This will prevent him from being implicated when Liu Jin fails to be listed in the future. It seems that Yang Tinghe has also concluded that Liu Jin's method of seeking death will definitely not end well in the future.

Yang Tinghe is a sensible person!
  Chang Feng said: "You tell your father these four words, 'tacit understanding'. Okay, please let me pay homage to my nephew's craftsmanship."

Yang Shen handed several articles to Chang Feng.

Chang Feng read several articles word for word. He sighed with emotion: "My dear nephew, what a great talent! Compared with your articles, my clumsy writings are just stinky shit!"

"You are only twenty years old this year! I have to say that making a fuss depends on talent."

Yang Shen quickly said: "Uncle Shi is overly praised."

Chang Feng gave several of his articles to Yang Shen to read.

Yang Shenhao gave some advice. Changfeng has gained a lot.

In the evening, Changfeng left Yang Shenyong to have dinner at home.

Delicious dishes are laid out in the dining room. Chang Ponu also got off his errand and came to the dining room.

Yang Shen saw Chang Ponu dressed in a third-grade official uniform. He asked: "Your Excellency, are you the Changfu Yin of Shuntian Mansion?"

Chang Ponu replied: "Exactly."

Yang Shen bowed to Chang Feng respectfully: "Uncle Shi, forgive my nephew for being rude, please take your leave now!"

Chang Feng asked: "We have agreed to stay at my place for dinner tonight. Why do we have to leave?"

Yang Shen replied: "My nephew disdains to drink at the same table with the backbone of the Eunuch Party! You are a loyal and upright man who is not afraid of the Eunuch Party, but your son is a villain who is attached to the Eunuch Party!"

Chang Feng and his son were stunned.

After Yang Shen said this, he walked away.

Chang Ponu sighed: "Dad, people misunderstand me too much."

Changfeng was speechless. It was he who instructed his son to temporarily attach himself to Liu Jin to maintain the Chang family's influence in the court.

Nowadays, everyone in the world regards Chang Ponu as the backbone of the eunuch party, and Chang Feng cannot escape the blame.

Chang Feng said: "Oh, it was me who harmed you."

Chang Ponu said, "Father, please don't say that. It's a fact that I followed Eunuch Liu to get rich."

"I am a Jinshi in the [-]th year of Hongzhi. Looking at the history books, there is no precedent for a Jinshi to be promoted to the third rank of Shuntian Prefecture Yin within three years of becoming an official."

"If you get benefits from others, you will naturally be scolded by them."

Chang Ponu was very calm.

Chang Feng said: "That's all. Sit down and eat."

Chang Ponu asked while eating: "How is father preparing for the exam?"

Chang Feng said: "It may be difficult to just cram for a moment. I know my talent and learning myself. If I had studied the Four Books and Five Classics every day for more than twenty years, I might be able to rank lower than the top three."

"But for more than twenty years, I have been busy with Jinyiwei every day. I only study hard for a period of time before the exam. Being named on the gold list is just a luxury."

Liu Xiaoyan said from the side: "In my opinion, it is better to let Queen Xia take advantage of the pillow. Let the emperor resurrect you and go to Dongchang as an errand. Dongchang is in the hands of Zhang Yong and is our own land."

Chang Feng said: "My dear brother-in-law, Weng Gang, told me this. Let's talk about it after the exam."

Inside the Leopard Room.

Jiang Bin is playing chess with Emperor Zhengde.

Jiang Bin said: "Father, I heard that Chang Feng has returned to Beijing."

Emperor Zhengde loved to fool around and had a lot of adopted sons. Jiang Bin is one of his adopted sons. Three months ago, Emperor Zhengde gave instructions to officially treat Jiang Bin as father and son.

In fact, Jiang Bin was much older than Emperor Zhengde.

Emperor Zhengde picked up a chess piece and hesitated. He said calmly: "Oh? Is this the case?"

Jiang Bin said: "I heard that Chang Feng returned to Beijing to take part in the examination."

Emperor Zhengde smiled slightly: "That's a good reason. He has the reputation of being a civil servant."

Jiang Bin said: "I am afraid that someone will interfere with the examination and deliberately let Chang Feng lose his reputation."

Emperor Zhengde put down the chess pieces and looked up at Jiang Bin: "I discovered last year that you really like to speak for Chang Feng."

Jiang Bin knelt down to Emperor Zhengde and said, "Go back to the emperor. Chang Feng is a loyal minister and your uncle. I should speak for him."

Emperor Zhengde said: "I know better than you whether Chang Feng is loyal or traitorous. But it's not the time to use him yet."

"Let's first see how he fares in the general examination. Don't worry, the examiner of the undergraduate general examination is Wang Hao. Wang Hao is an upright old scholar and will not help Liu Jin correct Chang Feng."

Seven days later, the general examination will begin. The people filed into the tribute courtyard carrying pens, ink boxes and food boxes.

This naturally includes Chang Feng, Yang Shen, and Jiao Huangzhong.

At the same time, except for Zhang Yong, members of the Eight Tigers gathered in the Li Prison.

Liu Jin said: "Gu Dayong. When the examination is over and the marking is over, you have to do two things. The first thing is not to let Yang Tinghe's son Yang Shen be admitted as a tribute scholar!"

"Yang Tinghe has been quite dissatisfied with me recently. Then don't blame me for ruining his son's future!"

"The second thing is to protect Jiao Cifu's son Jiaohuang and get his name on the apricot list."

Gu Dayong smiled and said: "Don't worry, Eunuch Liu. I have a way. Chang Feng also participated in the examination. I think it's better to let Chang Feng lose his reputation as well?"

Liu Jin frowned: "Don't make your own decisions! Chang Feng has been taking the examination for twenty years, and this is his knot. He has put in so much hard work to be named on the gold list."

"I can't intervene and cause harm in secret, causing all his hard work to be wasted."

Gu Dayong secretly cursed in his heart: Liu Jin, Liu Jin, you have to be as ruthless and ruthless as you do in your daily life. Why is it that he is only kind to Mrs. Chang Feng?

Liu Jin added: "Let Chang Feng take the test based on his true ability. If he wins, it means that his many years of hard work have been rewarded. If he fails, it means that he is not good at making, and he can't blame others."

"I would rather he win. A new Jinshi will be awarded a sixth or seventh grade official position. It's enough to send him to the Hanlin Academy to be a Hanlin official with no real power."

"It also saves him from going to work in Zhang Yong's Dongchang and causing trouble for me!"

Wei Bin smiled and said: "Eunuch Liu is really a man who misses old friendships!"

Liu Jin scolded: "I have old feelings for Chang Feng. But he treats me as a life-and-death enemy."

"This bastard! As long as he wanted to, he could share power with me! How could he be reduced to having no official position?"

February [-]th of the third year of Zhengde. The gong for the end of the examination was sounded in Gongyuan.

Chang Feng came out of the examination room with a group of students.

Yang Shen came over.

Chang Feng asked: "My dear nephew, how did you do in the exam?"

Yang Shen smiled slightly: "Not bad."

Chang Feng said with a smile: "It seems that my nephew is quite confident. But I am not sure. Whether I succeed or not depends on God's will."

Yang Shen said: "Uncle Shi, you are too modest. I think you will definitely be able to go to high school in this subject. God rewards hard work. You have studied hard for almost thirty years, and you should win."

That night, the Royal Palace, Wenhua Hall.

The chief examiner Wang Hao and the nine examiners have already taken their seats, and the marking has begun!
  (End of this chapter)