I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 555: Trial Lift Begins

Unlike Han Sui, Ma Teng never reached Luoyang in his lifetime.

He had been to Sanfu before, but this was his first time here after he was included in the family tree of the Fufeng Ma family.

The last time he appeared here, he was as a raider.

For some reason, after approaching Maoling County where the Ma family was concentrated, Ma Teng suddenly felt a little homesick.

After entering the county, Ma Teng found that Maoling County was very lively today, and hurriedly asked the people accompanying him.

Ma Yu, who was going to go to Luoyang with him, explained, "Brother, you don't need to ask. I know about this. Today is the day when the counties of Youfufeng select township officials and clerks through the examination method, so it's so lively."

When Ma Teng heard this, he didn't know how to face those people in the Ma clan who were his elders in name and blood, so he immediately said to Ma Yu: "Since we happened to meet, why don't we go and take a look at the grand occasion?"

Ma Yu had been with Ma Teng for so long, how could he not understand Ma Teng's thoughts? He responded: "Actually, I am also very curious like you... I have only heard of this being done in Guandong before."

So they soon arrived at the place where the trial was held.

At this moment, a county official suddenly shouted, "But is Ma Gong here in person?"

Ma Teng instinctively looked over, only to see a person coming towards him who he had no impression of. However, he had seen this situation many times when he was the governor of Jincheng. He just smiled and nodded at the person who came, and the person's expression was also very enthusiastic.

"I haven't seen you for several years, but you are still as charming as ever!"

"Zi Shi? Now he is the lieutenant of Maoling County? Not bad, not bad!"

Ma Teng's smile froze on his face, because the person who had just greeted him was Ma Yu, and the "Ma Gong" the other person was referring to was naturally Ma Yu.

He could only maintain his expression in embarrassment.

Fortunately, the other two quickly came out of the scene of reunion with old friends. After Ma Yu's introduction, Ma Teng learned that this person was Mao Fang, the lieutenant of Maoling County, and he was one of the first students of the Imperial College who responded to the call and became local officials.

Maoling is a large county, with two lieutenants, both of whom have a salary of 400 dan. The county chief of a small county has a salary of only 300 or 400 dan. Mao Fang has been in the government for eight or nine years and has come to this point. Although he is not as talented as Cui Yan and Chen Rong, his career path is already a smooth one.

After learning that Mao Fang came from a poor family, Ma Teng felt that Mao Fang was a very good person. Of course, it was also because Mao Fang respected him as much as he respected Ma Yu after being introduced by Ma Yu.

When talking about the examination, Mao Fang introduced: "You have arrived just in time. The candidates are about to enter. They must first pass the body search by the clerk at the door to prevent anyone from cheating."

"I am here to supervise and prevent any accidents from happening."

Ma Teng asked in confusion: "The trial sounds so important, how dare someone cheat here? Is the punishment not strong enough?"

Mao Fang explained: "In fact, there are people supervising the house. The reason for adding a check here is to prevent some people from taking chances... Although those who are found to have cheated will not only be banned from becoming officials, but will also be convicted, there are always some people who want to take risks."

After all, Ma Teng had governed Jincheng County before, and he understood that these regulations themselves were a deterrent.

Before the exam officially started, Mao Fang first apologized to Ma Teng and Ma Yu, and then announced to the scholars queuing outside the examination room: "I will not say much about the crime of cheating. The people beside me are all knowledgeable. Any tricks of hiding cheats will be useless in front of them! And during the exam, there will be officials monitoring... You should think carefully!" "The exam will last for a long time. You are not allowed to go out unless you hand in your papers... If you need to use the toilet, go there. Now is the best time to go!"

After finishing speaking, Mao Fang left. Soon, many scholars chose to go to the toilet.

When Mao Fang returned to Ma Yu, Ma Yu praised him, "You are indeed a benevolent person!"

Mao Fangze laughed and said: "In fact, it's just a poor imitator!"

As he spoke, Mao Fang told the two of them about Xun Yu's gentlemanly demeanor when he first took part in the Imperial College policy examination.

Ma Teng didn't think much of it, but Ma Yu said with some regret: "Could this be the 'talented king'? It's a pity that I didn't get to know him."

Mao Fangze said: "Recently I heard news from Luoyang that Xun Jun has been appointed as Shang Shu Pushe."

Ma Teng was shocked, thinking that Xun Yu was indeed very powerful.

He looked at Ma Yu, who had a somewhat gloomy expression, and thought to himself: If he had not been with him in recent years, with Ma Yu's talent and background, let alone reaching the same status as Xun Yu, at least he would not be just a hermit like he is now.

Ma Teng secretly made up his mind that after arriving in Luoyang, he would do his best to help Ma Yu - if he had the ability.

Soon, they saw that the candidates who were preparing to take part in the examination were obediently accepting the body searches of the clerks, but the body searches of the clerks were not so detailed as to search every corner.

While watching, Ma Teng suddenly noticed that there was a person who looked quite nervous. Based on his experience, there was a high probability that there was something wrong with this person.

He could see that the clerk in charge of the body search could also sense something, and he searched more carefully than the others… Suddenly, this person felt that he had been searched for too long and felt humiliated. Before the clerks could continue searching him, he burst out: “A real man stands between heaven and earth, upright and with a clear conscience! If you believe that I am a gentleman, then there is no need to check. If you don’t believe me, how can you bear this humiliation? I won’t take this test!”

After saying this, he broke free from the clerk's hand and was about to leave.

"Wait, since you signed up, when it's your turn, you should be searched before leaving!"

It was Mao Fang who spoke. Then, at Mao Fang's command, the clerks really found the hidden tape from the inside of his thigh.

"take away!"

At Mao Fang's command, the cheater, who had been frightened to the point of paralysis, was escorted away.

He had given the other party a chance before, but the other party didn't seize it, so it's not his fault!
"Gentlemen, please continue!" After saying this to the soldiers who were still queuing for inspection, Mao Fang returned to Ma Teng and Ma Yu.

Seeing that he handled things properly, Ma Teng asked Ma Yu before Mao Fang returned, "Are there many talented people like Zishi in the prefectures and counties of the country?"

Ma Yu thought for a moment and replied, "They are different talents, so they cannot be compared, but the Han Dynasty is not short of talents now... Especially after the implementation of this trial selection method, there should be more prime ministers who started as minor officials."

Listening to Ma Yu's words, Ma Teng suddenly realized that he had lived in Jincheng County for a long time and was indeed unable to keep up with the changes in the outside world.

(End of this chapter)