My brother Ying Zheng, who dares to kill me?.

Chapter 1020: The score is not important, standing in the right line is important! You can't have both, so you have to sacrifice your life for justice!

One test paper after another sucked away Dai Li's energy like a thousand-year-old fox.

The examination on archery and horse riding made Dai Li's arms so sore that he could hardly lift a pen.

By lunchtime on the fourth day, when the examination papers for the Ming Dynasty Government Examination were handed out on the desk, Dai Li's face had already turned somewhat pale.

After slapping himself hard a few times, Dai Li forced himself to tackle this last and most important test paper with more energy!

After reading the test paper with nervousness and trepidation, and confirming that Hu Hai's name did not appear on the paper, Dai Li breathed a sigh of relief and turned his attention to the first question.

[Which country has the potential to replace Zhou and rule the world? Briefly explain the reasons. 】

The first question hit Dai Li in the heart.

Swallowing hard, Dai Li murmured silently: "Qin's ambitions are no longer concealed?!"

"That's right, Lord Chang'an said: Chi Tian is dead, Xuan Tian should be the heir!"

The examinees who studied under the Lu Ru school in the examination room were furious and wrote down a big word without hesitation: [None]

In their view, even if the Qin Dynasty had the ability to unify the world and actually unified the world, Qin would still be a vassal of Zhou.

How can the princes replace the emperor?
But after a moment of silence, Dai Li wrote down a word: [Qin]

After writing down his thoughts in neat handwriting, Dai Li let out a light breath and continued to look at the second question. Then Dai Li was stunned.

[As for the Qin Dynasty today, do you think Qin should be governed by feudal fiefdom or by prefectures and counties? ]

Is this question difficult?
Not difficult.

There are sufficient theoretical bases for both supporting enfeoffment and supporting counties. Dai Li only needs to choose one of them and then quote from classics.

But the difficulty of this question lies in choosing one of them!
Dai Li knew very well that this question was to let the candidates take sides!

If you stand in the right position, you will definitely get a lot of extra points, but if you stand in the wrong position, it is very likely that even if you pass the exam, you will not be valued because of this question.

Dai Li didn't know whether the Qin Dynasty was planning to implement the feudal system or the county system, so he could only ask what was really in his heart.

Picking up the pen, Dai Li subconsciously wanted to write the word "enfeoffment".

But when Dai Li was halfway through writing, he moved the pen away.

Enfeoffment may make it easier for Qin to govern the local areas, but is it really beneficial to the old Qi territory?
It would be fine if the ancient Qi land could become the fief of Chang'an Jun, but what if the ancient Qi land failed to become the fief of Chang'an Jun?
Chang'an Jun's creations and knowledge, as well as the upward channel he opened for the common people, will certainly be difficult to spread to the old Qi land due to the separatist trend of the princes!

With a sigh, Dai Li made a decision that went against his master and his heart, and wrote down a line of words:

[I think that counties are better than fiefdoms! ]

After writing this selfish political commentary, Dai Li looked around with a guilty conscience, and then continued to look at the third question.

[The King of Qi asked to surrender to Qin, but there are many evil people in Qi who harbor evil intentions. If Qin rebels, who do you think will raise an army to cause chaos? If you were an official, how would you govern Qi?]

This question clearly expressed the examiner team's, or more precisely Ying Chengjiao's, vigilance and hostility towards the various forces in the former Qi territory.

But the question is, if Ying Chengjiao dares to ask, do the candidates dare to answer?

No one can guarantee that this test paper will not be seen by the people of Qi. Once the examinee identifies a certain citizen of Qi who may rise up in rebellion against Qin, he will not only make a great enemy with this person and be retaliated by this person, but he will also be cut off from the people of Qi!

Ying Chengjiao could kill one person, one family, or one clan, but could he kill all the people of Qi and eliminate the danger for them? Obviously not.

Dai Li's forehead was covered with beads of cold sweat, which flowed down his cheeks and dripped onto the test paper.

Seeing a water stain on the test paper, Dai Li hurriedly stepped back and wiped the sweat off his face.

But suddenly, Dai Li stopped moving. Why should he be afraid?
Life is what I want, and righteousness is what I want too! I cannot have both, so I would rather sacrifice life for righteousness!

If I retreat, how can I be worthy of the sages’ books that I have read day and night for more than ten years?
Dai Li became determined and dipped his brush in ink to write on the scroll.

But Ju Chang and other common people were unwilling to write and could only hurriedly turn to the next question.

However, more than 60% of the questions in the Mingzheng subject were not difficult, but they were questions that they could not answer!

The remaining 40% of the questions that truly test the ability to govern are all advanced questions. Even if they are children of wealthy families and have been well-read in classics since childhood, it is difficult for them to give satisfactory answers.

Ju Chang and others had to turn their attention back to the previous 60% of the questions.

Time passes slowly in struggle and entanglement.

"Boom~~~"

The melodious bell rang again, and Ju Chang, who had just finished the test paper, trembled all over as if he was a thief who was caught red-handed, and the brush fell out of his hand.

Ju Chang hurriedly stretched out his right hand to grab the tip of the brush, then put his left hand under his right hand to prevent ink from falling, and quickly moved both hands and the pen outside the test paper, and then looked at the test paper nervously.

Seeing that there was no ink on his test paper, Ju Chang didn't know whether to be happy or regretful. He sighed softly: "I have no choice."

Watching the judge taking away the test paper, Ju Chang collapsed on the couch like a gambler who had put down all his chips, and did nothing but look up at the dome with weak breathing.

"Brother?" Dai Li was about to leave the examination room when he turned around and saw Ju Chang, who looked like a dead man. He hurriedly called out in a worried voice, "Are you okay?"

Cao Shen turned around and stretched out his right hand to Ju Chang, saying, "Brother, can you still stand up?"

"If you can't get up, I will go find a doctor for you right away."

Ju Chang climbed up with the help of Cao Shen, and showed Cao Shen and Dai Li a smile that was uglier than crying: "I'm fine." "I just think that Hu Hai is abominable!"

Dai Li seemed to have found a soulmate and nodded vigorously: "That bastard Hu Hai should be killed!"

Cao Shen looked at the messy table in front of Ju Chang, his eyes wandering, but he also nodded in agreement: "I wish I could eat Hu Hai's flesh and then be happy!"

The three people had different thoughts, but they found common ground on the topic of Hu Hai.

As Zhou Ke, Zhou Chang, and more candidates approached, louder and louder curses echoed throughout Chang'an Bookstore:
"Hu Hai, you are not worthy of being a human being!"

At this moment, identity was no longer a thick barrier between them, and their common hatred of Hu Hai made them temporary comrades!

Not until they walked out of the gate of the old Qi King City did reality lead them to their respective futures.

After Ju Chang and Cao Shen and others bowed and said goodbye, they walked towards Ju Ang and other clansmen in silence.

Ju Ang asked urgently, "How about this test, my son?"

Ju Chang did not answer Ju Ang, nor did he pay attention to the tribesmen's eager expectations, but silently boarded the Ju family carriage.

Ju Ang's heart sank when he saw this. He immediately turned around and got on the carriage, asking solemnly, "What on earth is..."

Before Ju Ang could finish his question, Ju Chang knelt down on the ground, ashamed and nervous, and said in a low voice: "Son, I am ashamed of you, Grandpa!"

Ju Ang couldn't help but reveal deep disappointment in his eyes, but Ju Chang was already blaming himself, so what else could Ju Ang say?
Ju Ang just grabbed Ju Chang's arm and tried to pull him up, and said in a gentle and comforting voice: "It doesn't matter if you lose the first try."

"The Qin Dynasty has held imperial examinations for many times. In your opinion, the Qin Dynasty will hold imperial examinations again in the future."

"My son, study hard and take the exam again in the future!"

Ju Chang was unwilling to stand up, but whispered: "I think my answer in this test is not great talent, but at least it shows that I can be an official of 200 stone rank."

Ju Ang was very surprised: "If that's the case, why is my son acting like this?"

Ju Chang lowered his head, looked at the carriage board and said, "My son is going to take the Mingzheng exam. It's called Mingzheng, but it's actually about examining your conscience!"

"In order to be valued by Lord Chang'an, I not only answered that Qin could replace Zhou, but also pointed out that Prince Huan and Chai clan leader Lue were resentful of Qin. If Qin was unstable, these two might raise an army to cause chaos. I also wrote down everything I knew about these two people and the Chai clan violating the "New District Provisional Law" in the scroll!"

Although Ju Chang only nominated Tian Huan, who was driven to Guanzhong by Ying Chengjiao, and Chai Lue, who had a deep grudge against him, one of them was a member of the Tian clan, and the other was an old and powerful family that had occupied Chai County for hundreds of years.

At a time when Ying Chengjiao is sharpening his knife, Ju Chang's move is undoubtedly a stab in the back to his ally, and may very likely cause the Ju family to become the target of public criticism!
Ju Ang raised his voice: "Did my son really answer like that?"

Ju Chang lowered his head even more: "I acted out of my own selfish interests without consulting Grandfather or knowing the tribe's inclinations. I have sinned against the tribe!"

"Son, please use the family rules!"

"You bastard!" Ju Ang patted Ju Chang's shoulder vigorously and shouted excitedly: "You really are my son Qilin!"

Juchang: ???
Are you scolding me or praising me?
Ju Chang looked up in confusion, and saw Ju Ang excitedly moving a box from under the floor of the carriage. When he opened the lid, a set of blood-stained armor was revealed.

Juchang was puzzled and horrified and said, "Aunt, my son's crime is not serious enough!"

If you want to hit me, hit me. Why do you need to wear armor?

Ju Ang ignored Ju Chang, and stroked his armor with a complicated look, saying, "In the past, Chang'an Jun entered Qi as the left prime minister, and Nai Weng followed Chang'an Jun to the south to fight against Chu as a general."

"In this battle, Naiweng fought in Judu, destroyed Pengcheng, and assisted Tangju. He followed Chang'an Jun in the bloody battle and finally destroyed the State of Chu."

"I thought it was a rare victory for me, but I never thought it would be the life-saving battle for our Ju family!"

"Nai Weng has long wanted to wear this armor to find Chang'an Jun to talk about our friendship and ask Chang'an Jun to show mercy for the sake of our old friendship. However, since Nai Weng did not ask for surrender the first time Chang'an Jun attacked Qi, I am too embarrassed to ask for it."

"Now that my son has sincerely shown Chang'an Jun our loyalty to Qin, you now have the face to ask for a favor!"

There are certain words and certain accusations that Ju Ang, as the head of the Ju clan, cannot say.

After all, the spirit of righteousness prevailed in the ancient Qi land. If Ju Ang was not righteous, the reputation of the Ju family would be damaged.

Now, Ju Chang has submitted his letter of allegiance to Ying Chengjiao in the examination paper for the imperial examination, which also gives Ju Ang a chance to get closer to Ying Chengjiao without bearing the infamy of injustice!

Who could accuse a young boy with an unstable mind of telling the truth?

Who can blame a father who was betrayed by his eldest son?
Ju Chang murmured in shock, "My son betrayed the people's alliance and sold out Prince Huan and Chai clan leader."

"This action is actually a merit rather than a crime?"

Ju Ang sneered, "How can we talk about allies in front of the army of Chang'an Jun?"

"The reputation and talent of the tribe members are the most important!"

"Put on armor for your father!"

With the help of Ju Chang, Ju Ang quickly put on his old armor.

But when Ju Ang walked out of the car, he found that more than a dozen people's leaders who had participated in the war to destroy Chu were also wearing the old armor!

Ju Ang's heart skipped a beat.

broken!

(End of this chapter)