Ming Dynasty: The ghost betrays the Confucian sage, my son Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 180 Zhu Yuanzhang: The ministers of the entire dynasty are not as good as our father
Zhu Yuanzhang's cold gaze shot at Li Shanchang and Song Lian like a sharp sword. He shouted angrily: "Li Shanchang, Song Lian, one of you is the Zhongzheng officer and the other is the examiner. Explain to me clearly what is going on?"

Li Shanchang and Song Lian in the audience were shocked by the emperor's rage. They were at a loss and knew nothing about the matter. Under this sudden pressure, the two of them could only kneel down in panic and remained silent, not knowing how to respond for a moment.

"All the more than fifty scholars who passed the examination are from the south? This is simply ridiculous!" Zhu Yuanzhang roared angrily, "How will the scholars in the world view me as the emperor? How will they view the justice of the court?"

Song Lian quickly explained: "Your Majesty, the examiners will admit candidates based on the quality of the papers. Moreover, the candidates' names, place of origin and other information are sealed, so the examiners have no way of knowing."

However, Yang Xian interjected coldly: "Master Song, is there really such a coincidence in the world? Do you know what the students in the north are talking about? They say that the emperor is ungrateful and ungrateful."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, the anger in his heart burned even more. He slammed the imperial table, making the entire hall seem to tremble.

This was the first imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty. With such a result, how could it win over the hearts of the world's scholars?
"You actually made the first enke of the Ming Dynasty look like this!" Zhu Yuanzhang roared, "The more than fifty people are all students from the south, and there are none north of the Huaihe River! How does this make the people of the world view our Ming Dynasty? Do they think that my Ming Dynasty only covers half of the world?"

Li Shanchang and Song Lian were already in an ice cellar at this moment. This crime was really too heavy. However, they knew nothing about it and had no idea how such a thing could happen.

"Your Majesty, I have absolutely no fraud." Li Shanchang confessed eagerly, "The emperor can send someone to investigate this matter thoroughly. If there is any fraud, I am willing to kill myself to apologize."

Song Lian followed closely and bowed: "If there is any fraud, I am willing to kill myself on the spot to prove my innocence."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the firm eyes and decisive attitudes of the two of them, and most of the doubts in his heart gradually disappeared. He knew very well that Li Shanchang and Song Lian were loyal and reliable ministers, and they had no need or reason to cheat for southern students. However, what is going on? Why does this result occur?
"Check! Check it out for us." Zhu Yuanzhang roared angrily.

……

At dusk, the anxious Zhu Yuanzhang came to the Qinhuai River courtyard. The ministers discussed the issue of the imperial examination for a day, but could not come up with a suitable solution. The northern courtyard in front of the Ministry of Rites is temporarily dispersed, but the next time they gather together, it will be an even bigger storm.

He opened the door and saw Fourth Master Zhu drinking tea leisurely. He said angrily: "Fourth Master, you really guessed it. Something happened in the imperial examination."

"Isn't it just the northern students who missed the mark?" Fourth Master Zhu spread his hands and smiled, "It was expected."

"How did you expect that?" Zhu Yuanzhang was curious.

"The prosperity of scholars is not as high as that of Sichuan, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Jiangnan. In the land of plenty, there are many scholars, and in recent years, there has been no war in the south, so they can concentrate on studying." Zhu Siye analyzed, "As for the north, this We are still fighting, and eating is a problem, so how can we study? So this result is normal."

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly realized.

But even if this is the case, there is no way to explain it to the students in the north. Today in the Wenhua Hall, a minister suggested that the quota for the imperial examination should be abolished and the examination should be retaken. Wouldn't the imperial court be a slap in the face? By then the students from the north will stop making trouble, and the students from the south will start making trouble.

"What should we do now?" He frowned deeply.

"In fact, it's not difficult to do." Fourth Master Zhu took a sip of wine.

"Do you have any idea?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

"Zhu Yuanzhang and his ministers are all stupid." Fourth Master Zhu snorted.

Zhu Yuanzhang: "!!!"

It is said that the Three Stooges are better than Zhuge Liang. Can you alone be smarter than the entire court?

"In fact, it's not difficult to do. The more than fifty people admitted this time must not be eliminated. The court can call this event Enke South Field." Fourth Master Zhu spread his hands, "Aren't there still students from the north coming here one after another? The court simply Then gather the students from the north to have an Enke North Field. Finally, bring the students from the north and the south together for the palace examination. Isn’t that the end?”

"Is this appropriate? One imperial examination is divided into two halves?" Zhu Yuanzhang frowned.

"Does the imperial court have a better way?" Mr. Zhu rolled his eyes. "I even thought of a reason for the imperial court. Because of the years of war, the post station is blocked, so that Enke's first game is nothing more than a steady stream of northern students. The arrival of the emperor. Therefore, the emperor decided to hold Enke’s North Competition, where En and the students from the north will be held. Finally, the students from the north and the south will take the palace examination at the same venue, and the emperor will nominate the top three."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up suddenly, his eyes flashing.

Yes, that’s it!
……

After the imperial court announced the establishment of Enko North Field, the northern students indeed calmed down the noise. A month passed by in a hurry, and the Enke North Session was successfully concluded. Next was the much-anticipated palace examination for students from the North and the South.

Xuanwu Academy performed well in this encore. A total of fifteen students stood out, and the academy became famous. Those students who failed to pass the examination came here one after another and rushed to join Xuanwu Academy, hoping to achieve success in the next imperial examination.

All this was expected by Fourth Master Zhu. He knew very well that the next most important thing was to come out on top in the palace examination. So, he summoned Zheng Shiyuan, Han Yike and Song Li, who had the best grades in the academy.

Originally, he wanted to call Zhu Yong, but Zhu Yong ranked in the middle and lower, so there was little hope of winning the championship this time. Zheng Shiyuan, Han Yike and Song Li were all in the top ten.

Fourth Master Zhu confidently said to them: "As long as you can enter the palace examination, I have a way to help you win the first prize."

Hearing this, Zheng Shiyuan smiled dubiously and said, "Dean, please stop joking. Can you still know the questions of the imperial examination in advance?"

"I really know!" Fourth Master Zhu held his forehead, "Zhu Yuanzhang is an emperor born from a peasant, and the question in his imperial examination was three frames of rice."

"Three frames of rice?" The three of them were shocked. Fourth Master Zhu pointed to the three boxes of rice that had been prepared and explained to them in a crackling voice.

After listening to this, the three of them were doubtful.

Fourth Master Zhu spread his hands: "I've told you everything I know. It's up to you to perform on your own in the imperial examination."

Although the three people still didn't believe it, they still firmly remembered what Fourth Master Zhu just said.

……

One month later, the palace examination was held as scheduled.

The students arrived at the Ministry of Etiquette early in the morning and entered as required. This time they were arranged in a solemn hall. The students sat down according to the pre-designated positions, feeling both expectant and nervous, because today the emperor would be present in person.

"The Emperor has arrived!" With a high-pitched announcement, the atmosphere in the entire hall instantly became solemn.

Zhu Yuanzhang walked into the hall with majestic strides, and his steps showed the domineering power of an emperor. When everyone saw this, they immediately knelt on the ground and praised loudly: "Long live my emperor."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand and said in a deep voice: "Everyone, get up!"

The students stood up one after another after hearing this, and some who were more courageous secretly raised their eyes to look at the legendary emperor.

Zhu Yuanzhang, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, has a tall and majestic figure, handsome appearance, strong lines, and imperial power like a prison, covering the entire hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang was obviously in a good mood. After scanning his eyes, he said loudly: "You are all talents of our Ming Dynasty. Today, we want to do something different for the imperial examination. Come on, bring up the examination questions for us."

The courtiers and students in the main hall were all confused. What was the test question? Need someone to lift it up?
I saw a few guards carrying three baskets to the front of the hall. When everyone saw it, there were actually three baskets of rice.

At this time, Zheng Shiyuan, Han Yike and Song Li were in turmoil.

What's more, the dean really guessed it. The emperor's test question was three frames of rice.

"Everyone! Our test questions are not policy theory or the Four Books and Five Classics. Let's test something practical." Zhu Yuanzhang pointed at the three boxes of rice and said solemnly, "The test question is these three baskets of rice. Come and take a look and talk about these three baskets of rice. What's the difference?"

The students were all confused. They had been studying for decades and had been preparing for so long, but they never expected that the question for the palace examination would be three frames of rice.

Some of them, scholars, have never even been to the fields. How do they know the difference between these three boxes of rice? I have seen some of the poor people among them, but for a moment I couldn't figure out what the emperor meant. Rice is rice, don't they all look the same?

"You can also come and take a look." Zhu Yuanzhang waved to the courtiers.

Everyone was confused. Liu Bowen even grabbed a handful of rice with his hands, squeezed it, and then shook his head.

"You don't even know?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

Li Shanchang, Hu Weiyong, Yang Xian and others also shook their heads.

"You can feel it with your hands." Zhu Yuanzhang waved to the students, "These are the test questions."

Zheng Shiyuan, Han Yike and Song Li looked at each other. Immediately, Zheng Shiyuan took the lead and walked to a basket, leaned over and put his hands into the grain, felt its texture carefully, smelled its fragrance, and said in a deep voice: "The grain contained in this basket weighs about a hundred kilograms. The grains are all full, and the fragrance is fragrant. , appears as newly paid tax."

When Zhu Yuanzhang on the imperial steps heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, as if he had not expected such insight.

After that, Han Yike also went to the second basket, grabbed a handful of grain, rubbed its shape gently, and tested it with his teeth, and said: "This grain is old and has a musty smell. The people cherish their food and don't care about it." It causes it to become moldy, so the grain should come from Taicang."

Song Li didn't show any signs of weakness. He walked to the side of the third basket and followed the same pattern. He frowned slightly and said after a while: "The grains in this are half chaff and hulls. I suspect it came from the military warehouse."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slowly after hearing the three people's answers. Zheng Shiyuan took the opportunity to continue: "Your Majesty showed us the third-grade rice grains in order to make us realize the various aspects of officialdom and the differences between people's hearts. If you can clearly distinguish the rice grains, you can have an insight into the people's sentiments and understand the secrets of officialdom. If so, Then in the future, when making decisions about government affairs, we will be able to judge the truth and tell the truth, and we will neither deceive the people nor be deceived by the people."

After he finished speaking, everyone in the audience felt as if they were waking up from a dream and suddenly realized the profound meaning.

Then, Han Yike and Song Li also expressed their opinions, which were all taught to them by Fourth Master Zhu before.

After Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he praised: "Well said! How did you see it?"

Zheng Shiyuan bowed and said, "Our dean said that many things are not in books, so he took us to the fields and taught us similar principles."

"Xuanwu Academy?" Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with surprise, "You three are all from Xuanwu Academy. Your dean teaches well. This is the Master!"

(End of this chapter)