Traveling through Tianlong: Starting from the Zhenlong chess game

Chapter 440: Number One Scholar and First Place
Hu Yanjin curled his lips and said: "Our Huyan family has a clean family tradition, but we never do such things. I only know about Brother Rui's examination for merit. And even if I can follow your path, with my understanding of my uncle , and he won’t ask for help.”

"Oh? I wonder what position this uncle holds now, and he has such a stubborn temper. But among the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, I have never heard of any other officials of the Huyan family except my father-in-law and eldest brother." Zhao Mu asked .

Hu Yanjin shook his head and said: "My uncle has not been an official in these years. Besides, except for visiting each other during the holidays, our two families rarely interact with each other. I heard my father mentioned that my uncle was my grandfather's bastard. But he He is very upright and dislikes the hypocritical etiquette of greetings and farewells in the court. Therefore, he is mostly displeased by his grandfather. After his grandfather passed away, the brothers separated. The other uncles were demoted, most of them were marquises. My uncle was assigned the title of Duke Yunyang, the youngest. After that, he passed the imperial examination and never became an official again."

Zhao Mu murmured: "Uncle Yunyang? No wonder I haven't heard of it."

In the Song Dynasty, although those with noble titles were ranked higher than all civilians and officials. But not all titles are valuable.

The county prince that Zhao Mu conferred back then was considered the smallest title among the mainstream titles.

The future Bo Zinan may be barely considered a green leaf in the local area, but in a place like the capital, if a brick is dropped and kills ten people, five of them will be marquises, and four of the remaining five will be The prince of the Hou family.

The titles of uncle, son, and male can even be ignored in the capital. Even the actual gold content of this title is not as valuable as the title of Juren.

And the most important thing is that the heirs to the three titles of princes, princes and marquises can be called "Crown Son". If they have a daughter, they can be called princess or county head. Further down, uncles, sons, and third-level men can only be called young masters and young ladies.

Hu Yanjin said at this time: "But my uncle is a very good person. Although he is a somewhat pedantic scholar, he can be said to be both civil and military, chivalrous and courageous. Over the years, he has used his small salary to help many rural people. Neighbor. He is very popular among the people around him. He also opened a school to select children with good character but who cannot afford to study. Even my cousin is not allowed to study. Whatever special treatment I received, I treated it the same as everyone else.”

Especially Hu Yanrui, he was selected as a scholar at the age of thirteen, and as a scholar at the age of sixteen, which can be said to be a young success. However, he failed to pass the imperial examination several times after that. It wasn't until Enke, who was in his thirties, that his answer sheet was appreciated by Zhao Mu. Let him enter the palace examination.

When Zhao Mu arrived, Zhe Zong was holding Hu Yanrui's answer sheet and said, "Uncle, come quickly. I feel that this boy can be the number one scholar in the Enke Palace Examination."

If he had been willing to beg his uncle, King Zhongxiao, or even his cousin Hu Yanxian, he would not have gotten into this situation.

Zhao Mu admired the father and son very much, but he wanted to be their bole once.

The next day, Zhao Mu was summoned to the imperial study room to review the imperial examination papers with Zhe Zong.

Zhe Zong couldn't help but frown when he looked at the answer sheets of many people. He even threw it aside in disgust.

Zhao Mu said in surprise: "Ah? It's admirable to take him so seriously."

Zhao Mu learned some about the life of Uncle Yunyang and his son from Hu Yanjin's mouth. The personalities of their father and son are not much different, and they are both ashamed to ask for help.

Zhao Mu asked: "Is it Hu Yanrui's answer sheet that your Majesty is looking at?"

Zhezong was just impressed by the eloquent article, but he didn't have time to read the name.

He looked at the name on the scroll and smiled and said: "Haha, I thought he was talented, but it turned out that the emperor's uncle leaked the question." Zhao Mu smiled and walked forward and said: "Your Majesty has wronged the minister. Wei Chen knew this name because during yesterday's palace examination, Wei Chen looked at almost all the students who took the exam. Most of them could repeat Sima Qian's lies, but few of them had their own opinions. It’s quite satisfying, Wei Chen is also very attentive.”

Hearing this, Zhezong smiled and said, "Oh? I thought this person was a relative of King Zhongxiao, and the emperor's uncle specially told him the question so that he could win."

Zhao Mu replied: "Wei Chen asked Jin'er after he returned home. This man is the younger brother of King Zhongxiao and the son of Yunyang Bohu Yanzhun. He really relied on his own ability to answer."

Zhezong thought about it carefully and then said: "Uncle Yunyang? Hu Yanzhun? Who is this person? I seem to have never heard of him. Now he is an official in the capital? Or was he sent to the border to guard? Where is his official residence? Pin? Why have I never heard of this person?”

Seeing Zhe Zong's confused look, Zhao Mu also felt a little funny. After all, a prince's biological brother can actually feel this level of existence, which shows how upright this person is.

So Zhao Mu told Zhe Zong all about the past of Hu Yanzhun and his son.

After hearing this, Zhe Zong also laughed and said: "Hahahaha, I didn't expect that there are such elm-headed people in this world. But this loyal man with upright character, although his brain is a little unclear, is the best helper. Uncle Emperor, I intend to nominate this uncle’s son as the number one scholar, what do you think?”

Zhao Mu replied: "It all depends on your Majesty."

Faced with Zhao Mu's answer, Zhe Zong also smiled and said nothing. Then Zhezong's pen was written on Hu Yanrui's paper with the words "first place in the A Division".

However, Zhezong did not fully appreciate Hu Yanrui's talent. On the contrary, as a ruler, Zhezong sometimes disliked such "idiots" who were too upright and unable to adapt. Although these people with one head are the most handy weapons and the most barbarous dogs when they check and balance the political situation in the court.

But when this group of people confronts them, they would rather be in pieces than in ruins, which is quite nerve-wracking.

Zhezong appointed Hu Yanrui as the number one scholar entirely because of the in-law relationship between the Huyan family and Zhao Mu. If there was no such relationship, even though he was talented, Zhe Zong would give him a Jinshi background. Then when it is time to demote this kind of person, demote him so that he can avoid the limelight. When it's time to use him to bite people or do practical things, bring him back and reinstate him. It focuses on the flexibility of a yo-yo.

For example, this is the case with Su Shi. Moreover, Su Shi can also control Su Che. It can be said that it kills two birds with one stone.

Later, after repeated discussions with Zhe Zong, Zhao Mu selected two people with similar political views to them, and they became the second and third best people in the Jia family.

Then we also ranked others. Among them, those whose political views are closer to the two are ranked on the A list, while the others are on the B list.

This ranking and list are also very particular, and the priority of the Ministry of Personnel in dispatching officials is also based on this ranking. The higher the ranking, the greater the chance of filling a vacancy, and the greater the official position. Others can only be on the waiting list. Some of the top two Jinshi candidates only had to wait seven or eight years to fill the vacancy of a prefect.

With the announcement of the imperial list, Zhao Mu also breathed a sigh of relief. The Enko he presided over has finally come to an end.

It's time for Zhao Mu to go out for a walk.

(End of this chapter)