Good son-in-law of the Ming Dynasty

"The question is, which of these two can take the first place?"

As a result, the examiners all talked about it.

Those who can enter the examination room as examiners are usually bachelors of the Hanlin Academy, the six subjects of the department, the imperial envoys and the like.None of these people came from Jinshi and the Hanlin Academy. Among other things, their knowledge is first-rate in the world.

Literati are together, but they are extremely enthusiastic about comparing the length of their articles.

So, everyone started discussing with each other, starting with the writing styles of Su Mu and Kang Hai, and then discussing the pros and cons of their poems and articles.

All of a sudden, the solemn hall just now became lively.

In the end, everyone came to a conclusion that when it came to poetry and novels, Su Mu was firmly ahead of Kang Hai.But when it comes to stereotyped writing, Kang Hai is much more sophisticated.This can be seen from the Shiwen Collection, which is sold in the market, and the articles of these two people are included.In contrast, Kang Hai's articles have a uniform style and stable quality.Some of Su Mu's imperial examination stereotyped essays were so exquisite that it made one's hair stand on end, while others seemed very ordinary. Any ordinary examiner could easily write them, and the quality was too unstable.

The people below spoke happily, completely forgetting that this is a serious imperial examination room. As the chief executive, Wang Zhi frowned dissatisfied.

Seeing everyone's expressions, hearing colleagues' discussions, seeing her own words successfully warming up the atmosphere, and seeing Wang Zhi's darkened face, Jiao Fang was very satisfied with the result.

When everyone had finished speaking, Jiao Fang laughed loudly and said loudly: "Indeed, these two people plus Yang Shen are representatives of the younger generation of scholars in my dynasty. If these three people appear in the Enke examination room at the same time this year On the other hand, if they are selected as Jinshi at the same time, it will be a good story. The three of them, in the next 20 years, will hold my Ming Dynasty culture. Now they are taken by us, and it is our honor to tell them."

"Yes, yes!" Everyone nodded, "It's a pity that Yang Yongxiu can't come to the examination."

Jiao Fang gave Wang Zhi a meaningful look, then turned her head to look around, and laughed loudly: "Speaking of which, among the three sons, Su Mu is from Baoding Prefecture, Kanghai, Shaanxi Wugong, they are all northern scholars. Yang Shen, a native of Xindu, Sichuan, if he doesn’t come to take the exam, this year Enke, our northern scholars will overwhelm the southern scholars. I'm afraid the year will change!"

He still couldn't forget the ostracism he suffered in the Hanlin Academy back then. The examiners of this subject were all from the south, and as for Wang Jiao, he was the leader of scholars in the south of the Yangtze River.

Jiao Fang's words like this are simply a provocation to everyone.

For a while, everyone fell silent, and some people's faces showed dissatisfaction.

Wang Zhi didn't expect Jiao Fang to be so vengeful, he was stunned, and anger surged in his heart.

However, Elder Wang has a noble status and deep cultivation, and he is not as angry as Jiao Fang. He only coughed and said lightly: "Okay, it's getting late, we can set the yuan."

Hearing this, the examiners all glanced at each other, and they all had a vague thought in their hearts at the same time. This time, the ranking of Jiangnan Scholars must be set at the top, and the ranking of Kang Hai and Su Mu must be lowered. .

According to the rules, Chinese-style papers were quickly divided into two grades.

If there are no major mistakes in the re-examination and palace examination, this is the future Tong Jinshi and Tong Jinshi.

Everyone had no doubts about the rank of Citong Jinshi. After the trial, the ranking was determined. Wang Zhi ordered people to break the seal under the supervision of the supervisor and record the name on the list.

After the seal was unsealed, Jiao Fang also straightened her neck and looked intently, and saw that the names of Kang Hai and Su Mu were not on the list, and she felt relieved: It seems that the representatives of these two northern scholars are in the first rank. The face of northern scholars fell on these two.

Soon, the first paper was reached.Everyone raised their spirits.

Under the auspices of Wang Zhi, the rankings were determined in the paper.But the top three, or No.1 papers caused disputes.

"This is good!" Wang Zhi pointed to a paper and applauded: "It is light and agile but not soft, it is as straight as a breeze blowing on the face, and it makes people feel refreshed. It should be the first name Huiyuan!"

Wang Zhi was the master of essays at that time, and since the examination of the papers, he has never heard him praise a single paper.

Hearing his praise, the examiners all gathered together to watch, and after reading only a few words, they all shouted hello.

This applause is half sincere and half intentional.

It has to be said that this person's test paper is indeed good.At the same time, the pulse is extremely smooth, which makes people feel like they can't stop reading.From the perspective of its charm, it is delicate and delicate, giving people a feeling of seeing the mountains and rivers in the south of the Yangtze River.No need to ask, it must have been made by southern candidates.

After reading it, everyone was moved: Indeed, as Mr. Jiao said just now, only Wu Gong Kang Hai and Baoding Sumu are the only ones who can be regarded as masters in this test.Unfortunately, they are northerners.This person's articles have already achieved great results, but he doesn't know where such a talented person emerged from.

Now, Jiao Fang has successfully caused a regional dispute, and everyone is determined to make this person the number one.

"Otherwise, according to my opinion, this paper is pretty good, and it should be the first name!" Jiao Fang was annoyed when she saw the crowd surrounding a Jiangnan scholar-style paper and gave a paper Throw it in front of everyone.

He shouted: "Look, gentlemen, this man's writing is so sophisticated that people can read it. It's like being in a solemn and splendid palace, full of everyone's strength of character. The imperial examination selects scholars, selects talents and virtues, and virtue should be placed first. , A person who can write such a sophisticated and steady article must be a mature gentleman, and only such a person is worthy of the first place. The imperial examination is a grand ceremony for the country's talents, and it is not about singing the wind and playing the moon. Thickness must be placed in the first important position. "

Speaking of this, Jiao Fang became excited and read aloud: "Look at the broken title, 'Today's Fushan, where the vegetation gathers', look at the inherited title' and the reason why it looks beautiful to others is because of this. ', you can see that it is said that if it is like a mountain of cattle, there are others who are otherwise. Wherever the ax and catty go, they can neither keep their beauty from the beginning; It is a big country, so it is convenient to seek pasture and grass.'”

If Su Mu was on the phone in the lobby right now, his eyes would widen in surprise.Needless to say, the article Jiao Fang read was exactly his paper.Of course, even if he is there, he is not sure that it is his own work, or Jiao Fang's composition in the examination room in the spring of the 16th year of Hongzhi in real history.

For a moment, the only sound left in the hall was Jiao Fang's clear reading.

I have to admit that this article is very well done, just like the man's skull, which fits perfectly, is completely natural, and shines with a solemn style. Such an article is indeed worthy of the title of the first Huiyuan.

However, this kind of article looks like a typical northern literati's writing style. Needless to say, it must be Kang Hai's work.

Although Kang Hai is famous for his poems, he has devoted himself to the imperial examinations these years, and he has spent ten times as much thought on his articles as on his poems.I don't know if it's because he has a special talent for stereotyped essays, and after a few years, he has become a master of the school.

Every essay is a textbook for scholars to imitate and figure out.

Everyone has been familiar with his writing style for a long time, and naturally he can recognize it at a glance.

Such an article deserves the No.1 title.

However, in this way, the northern scholar is not going to steal the limelight. In any case, his name has to be reduced to No. 2, and the paper of the Jiangnan examinee just now is set as the first.

Although they didn't want to, but how to refute Jiao Fang, everyone didn't know how to speak.

When it comes to eloquence, everyone thinks that they may not be the opponent of Mr. Jiao, so they set their sights on Wang Zhi, the master of essays.

Wang Zhi was very direct, and just said casually: "This article is rigid and dull, and the writing is also tied up, so I can't let it go. I'm afraid it's inappropriate to rank first, so let's rank second! The previous share Make it the number one!"

"President Wang's words are deceiving." Suddenly, Jiao Fang let out a high-pitched laugh.

The laughter stunned Wang Zhi, and he couldn't help feeling a burst of fire in his heart.

Wang Zhi is the leader of Shilin, so naturally it is impossible to conflict with Jiao Fang because of this, and he will lose his identity.

He looked at Jiao Fang quietly, and when his laughter stopped, he asked lightly, "Why is President Jiao laughing?"

Jiao Fang put on a face, and said solemnly: "President Wang probably doesn't like the style of the paper I picked out, but he can't find any faults, so he evaluates it as dull. But if If you brush him down like this, I'm afraid you won't be able to convince the public. As for the paper that President Wang wanted to order as the first name, it looks like the style that Mr. President and southern scholars like. I have to admit that the articles on this paper are indeed It is beautiful and timeless, but there is a problem."

Hearing that he mentioned the regional dispute between northern and southern scholars, the other examiners were very unhappy.

Wang Zhi asked back: "What's wrong?"

Jiao Fang stroked his beard, and said seriously: "Actually, the director of this paper recommended by President Wang is indeed very talented. But, sir, have you noticed that some of the five stereotyped sentences in the first scene are a bit awkward to read?" It’s not smooth enough, it’s as if it’s done in a hurry, and it lacks a sense of coherence. With this talent, there should be no problem in being a Jinshi, but it’s not suitable for the main point to be the first name.”

But he didn't know that the owner of this paper was Kang Hai.

In fact, Jiao Fang was right. Kang Hai’s first five-part essay was passed by himself by accident, and because the time was too tight, it was written in a hurry without deliberation and pondering.But just like that, his paper still caught Wang Zhi's fancy, and the main points were the first.This shows how powerful Kang Hai's articles are.